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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


Ex  Libris 

Katharii.o  F.  Richmond 
and 

Henry  C.  Fall 


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HISTORICAL   SKETCH  . 


OF  THE 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH, 
CLAREMONT,  N.  H. 


A 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH 


OF    THE 


lethodist  Episcopal  Churcli 


IN 


Claremont,  ¥.  H. 


BY 


M.  V.  B.  KNOX. 


PRINTED   BY  THE  CLAREMONT  MANUFACTURING  CO. 
1882. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE 

METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHURCH, 

CLAREMONT,  N.  H.,  l882. 


PREACHER    IN    CHARGE, 

M.  V.  li.  Knox. 

trustp:es. 
Daniel  W.  Johnson,  Hon.  Ira  Colbt, 

Henry  Colby,  Osmon  B.  Way,  M.  D. 

George  AV.  Holden. 

stewards. 
WiNTHRor  Sargent,  George  L.  Drurt, 

Joseph  Weber,  George  W.  Holden, 

Osmon  B.  Way,  M.  D.  Edward  F.  Houghton, 

Charles  O.  Eastman,  George  W.  Stevens, 

Sylvester  Bartlett. 

class  leaders. 
Philander  Wallingford,  Baxter  Emerson, 

George  W.  Holden,  Lorenzo  Draper, 

John  Mc  Laugiilin. 


F 


NOTE. — This  Sketch  is  intended  to  preserve  vjihiablc  history 
that  might  otherwise  be  lost,  and  to  record  earnest  endeavor  that 
might  otherwise  be  forgotten.  The  basis  of  the  earlier  part,  reach- 
ing to  1853,  was  furnished  by  the  manuscript  of  Rev.  John  Me 
Laughlin,  who,  at  great  trouble,  secured  access  to  the  records  at 
the  various  points  which  once  constituted  the  Circuit  of  which 
Claremont  was  a  part.  Slight  errors  of  date  or  incident  may  be 
possible,  3et  it  is  hoped  that  verv  few  if  an}-  such  have  been 
incorporated.  This  Sketch  is  only  an  outline  of  successes  to  tell 
of  which  a  large  volume  could  well  be  written  ;  but  the  noblest 
monument  of  Methodism  in  this  place  is  the  hundreds  who, 
through  its  help,  have  lived  noble  lives  and  died  triumphant  deaths, 
together  with  the  large,  strong  church  now  existing  trustful  of  other 
victories  for  the  Master. 


1 C66705 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH  OF  METHODISM 
IN   CLAREMONT. 


It  is  reported  on  the  strength  of  hearsay  that  the  first  sermon 
preached  in  Clarcmont  by  a  Methodist,  was  delivered  hy  Rev.  Mr. 
Daniels  the  first  Methodist  preacher  who  died  in  Xew  England. 
He  was  buried  at  Unity.  Others  say  that  the  eccentric  Lorenzo 
Dow,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  preached  the  first  sermon  delivered 
bj'  a  Methodist  in  this  town,  in  the  neighborhood  known  as  Puck- 
ershire.  A  revival  influence  followed  his  labors.  It  is  probable, 
however,  that  the  exact  date  cannot  now  be  recovered  when 
"Wesley's  Parish"  was  pushed  into  Claremont.  In  the  winter  of 
1798  Lorenzo  Dow  preached  ever}-  four  weeks  in  the  Green  Moun- 
tain district  and  his  labors  resulted  in  some  conversions  and  the 
formation  of  a  class  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Robertson,  who  sometimes 
acted  as  leader.  Dow's  eccentricities  however  were  finally  thought 
unbearable  and  he  was  advised  to  leave  the  town,  which  lie  did  in 
quite  a  characteristic  manner.  Riding  to  its  line,  with  thouglits 
and  maledictions,  the  results  of  which  it  ma^'  be  impossible  to  tell, 
and  the  nature  of  which  the  last  da}'  alone  may  reveal,  he  dis- 
mounted and  ra[)ping  his  shoes  together,  shook  the  dust  of  Clare- 
mont olT  them,  solemnly  declaring  that  he  siiould  never  enter  the 
town  more  until  solicited  b}'  those  who  were  anxious  for  his  labors 
as  a  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Never  being  invited,  he 
never  did  retiu'n,  and  his  testimony  tlius  feelingly  given,  still  re- 
mains. 

The  first  organized  Methodism  in  Clarcmont  was  a  class  formed 
of  those  who  were  converted  under  the  labors  of  Dow,  in  the 
Green  Mountain  district.  The  leader  was  Eliakim  Stevens, — a 
man  who,  bearing  the  honor  of  this  fust  olFicial  appointment,  hon- 
ored the  office  b}'  maintaining  a  life  of  fidelity,  usefulness,  and 
Christian  triumph.     He  died  in  peace,  and  his  record  is  on  high. 


(",  liiSTOUicAi.  sKi/rrii  ok 

l'\;r  :i  wliilp  the  class  vigorousl}  sustained  ilsclf,  l)iit  the;  removal  of 
its  members  so  reduced  it  that  at  length  those  who  remained  were 
conucc'ted  with  other  classes  in  surrounding  regions.  However, 
Methoilism  did  not  ditHise  itself  from  this  class,  the  earliest  form- 
ed, hut  from  a  seconti  introduction  through  other  sources. 

Ill  1801  Claremont  was  included  in  the  new  Circuit  of  Hanover. 
A  (juarterly  meeting  is  reported  in  Claremont,  May  7,  1801,  con- 
n»'cted  with  which  are  the  following  l)ai)tisms — Susanna  Stoddard, 
Nancy  Fiskc,  Dorcas  Miles,  Mary  Robertson,  Hezekiah  Mills, 
Susanna   Stevens,    Chloe  Chafin,  Cynthia  Fiske,   Anmary  Fiske. 

The  linancial  report  of  this  first  Quarterly  Meeting  in  Claremont. 
indicates  so  uuich  that  it  is  given  entire  :  Hanover,  S  1.00,  Canaan, 
8  0.00,  Enfield,  Sl.OO,  Springfield,  $10.00,  New  Grantham, 
g2.2.').  Unity,  $.51.  Claremont,  81.82,  Total  $22.58.  Dis- 
bursements, according  to  the  rules  then  in  practice,  were  made  to 
three  men  whose  names  will  ever  remain  fragrant  with  virtues,  and 
l)right  with  grand  achievements  in  a  ministry  remarkable  for  noble 
deeds  and  self-sacrifice  : 

.John  Brodhead,  Presiding  Elder,  $  1.41 

Martin  Kuter,  on  the  circuit,  2.00 

Thomas  Branch,  "         ''       Quarterage,     17.55 

Do.  Expenses  1.62  \U.\7 

In  1802  the  membership  in  Claremont  consisted  of  the  follow- 
ing :  Eliakim  Stevens,  Prudence  Stevens,  Eliphalet  Robertson, 
Mary  Robertson,  Susanna  Stevens,  John  Amidon,  Dorcas  Talmon, 
Susanna  Stoddard,  Cynthia  Fiske,  Hezekiah  Mills,  Phebe  Farring- 
ton.  Amos  Stoddard,  Betse}-  Howell. 

The  financial  exhibit  for  the  3'ear  ending  about  July  1802  shows 
the  towns  included  in  the  circuit,  gives  a  glimpse  of  the  extended 
field  of  labors,  the  remuneration  in  cash  of  the  early  itinerant, 
and  also  marks  the  comparative  pecuniary  strength  of  those  places 
and  Claremont. 
Claremont,  S  5.0.3 

Public  collections,  1.75       S  7.38 

North  Grantham,  17.87i 

Public  collection  12.60'      30. 47^ 

I'nitv,  -87 

Canaan,  39.60 

Public  collection,  12.50         52.10 

Hanover,  4.90 

Meriden,  3.64 


30.15 

5.25 

3.42 

1 

2.12^ 

3.44 

$143775 

S  7.19 

55.79 

5.40^ 

G1.19^ 

55.79 

9.44 

65.23 

METHODISM    IN    CLAKKMONT. 

Springfield, 

(ioshen, 

Dorchester, 

Croydon, 

Cheshire, 

Total 
Disbursements, 

John  Brodhead,    Presiding  Elder, 
Reuben  Jones,     (Quarterage, 

"  Expenses, 

Joshua  Crowcll,  (Quarterage, 

"  Expenses, 

Total  to  P.  E.  and  to  preachers,  $  133.61  J 

The  remaining  ton  dolhirs  are  not  accounted  for,  though  doubt- 
less good  use  was  made  of  the  mone\'. 

These  facts  and  figures  are  footpiMuts  of  immortal  greatness. 
An  enduring  record  of  them  is  on  high,  and  left  to  us  are  as  im- 
perishable as  living  deeds  can  be.  New  Hampshire  and  other 
parts  of  northern  New  England  were  frontiers  then  ;  now  the 
frontiers  crowd  up  on  both  sides  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  na}- 
into  their  very  gold  and  silver  recesses,  and  what  was  done  here  in 
sacrifice  and  labor,  faith  and  prayer,  In  the  first  of  this  century,  is 
being  done  now  by  hundreds  of  devoted  Methodists  from  Texas  to 
the  Saskatchawan,  and  from  the  Gulf  of  California  to  the  tributa- 
ries of  the  Frazer  River.  We  have  but  to  brush  against  the  work 
and  workers  of  those  regions  to  find  that  the  heroic  age  of  Meth- 
odism is  not  passed.  The  figures  above  given  might  be  misleading, 
however,  to  the  present  generation  if  a  statement  should  not  be 
made.  Those  itinerants  that  received  sixty-one  or  sixty-five  dol- 
lars for  a  year  of  hard  work,  were  commonly  men  with  no  fam- 
ily— for  as  soon  as  married  they  generally  had  to  locate, — tiu-ir 
boanl  and  horse-kocping  cost  nothing,  as  they  constantly  traveled 
and  lived  among  the  people,  so  that  their  out-going  exi)enses  were 
confined  mostly  to  clothing  and  books,  and  that  even  in  a  more  prim- 
itive age  of  dress  and  reading.  While  these  facts  do  not  detract 
from  the  grandeur  of  such  labors,  tluy  show  that  the  people  of 
their  penury  gave  lilx'rally  in  tiiose  times.  If  hard,  successful 
labor  is  seen  on  one  side,  on  the  other,  eminent  (.'hristian  hospi- 
tality and  self-denying  support  of  the  gospel  are  not  a  whit  less 
prominent. 


8  IIISTOIJICAI.    M<I.r(|I    OP 

The  condition  of  the  circuit  in  which  Clarcmont  was  reckoned 
can  be  best  learned  by  looking  again  at  the  financial  report  for  the 
confcrcncu'  ^car  closing  Jul}-,  1803.  Those  figures  are  taken  from 
records  found  in  Grantham, 

Hanover,  S  ^^-^^ 

Canaan,  $12.H 

Public  coll.,  IH.ODJ        30.83i 

North  G  rantham ,  10. 55 1 

Public  coll.  11.30          27. 85^ 

Claremont,  7..')  7^ 

Croydon,  2-1'^ 

Dorchester,  11. 74  J 

Meriden,  S     2.24 

Unity,  7.30i 

Goshen,  2.50 

Springlield,  1.2 /} 

Hartford,  3.48} 

Enfield,  Public  collection,  10.70 

Captain  Webb's  subscription,  4.00 

Total 

Disbursements, 

John  Brodhcad,  Presiding  Elder, 
Alvin  Beal,  Quarterage, 

"  P^xpensos, 

Thomas  Skeels,    Quarterage, 
"  Expenses, 

Joel  Winch,  Quarterage, 

"  Expenses, 

Paul  Dustin,  Quarterage, 

"  Expenses, 

Two  blank  books  for  Steward, 

Total  $  121.66 

The  names  of  Brodhead,  Crawford,  Ruter  and  Skeels  were 
cherished  man}'  years  in  the  living  memor}-  of  Christian  workers  as 
ministers  whose  labors  were  effective  in  giving  repute  to  Methodism, 
and  in  securing  for  it  public  confidence  and  recognition.  Thomas 
Skeels  left  his  mark  as  a  man  powerful  in  prayer..  An  incident  is 
preserved.  In  his  last  sickness  he  was  attended  by  the  eccentric 
Dr.  Hastings  of  Charlestown,  who  against  all  the  discouragements 
of  the  disease,  said  he  was  bound  to  cure  him,  and  should  ask  for 
compensation  only  that  Skeels  should  come  to  Charlestown,  and 
teach  his  own  minister,  Mr.  Crosb}',  how  to  pray. 


$121.64} 

$  15.19 

8  38.91} 

8.G4 

47.55} 

22. G9} 

10.41 

33.10} 

9.89 

1.16 

11.05 

12.66 

.85 

13.51 

1.25 

METHODISM    IN    CLAREMONT.  i) 

In  1804  the  conference  was  designated  the  New  England  ;  New 
Hampshire  was  a  district,  on  which  John  Brodhead  was  Presiding 
Elder;  the  circuit  was  called  New  Grantham,  the  preachers  Elijah 
Willard  and  Dan  Young.     Members  on  the  circuit  176. 

A  glimpse  is  here  obtained  of  the  wa^-  in  which  the  discipline  was 
enforced.     The  following  are  quotations  from  its  records  :     "Betsey' 

C a  member  in  full  connection,  being  accused  and  convicted 

of  improper  conduct,  was  labored  with  and  exhorted,  time  after 
time  to  reform,  but  after  six  weeks'  trial,  no  marks  of  humility  and 
repentance  appearing  was  expelled  Nov.  27,  1802." 

"Daniel  and  JNIaiy  C parents  of  the  above,  took  umbrage  at 

our  dealings  with  their  daughter,  and  spread  scandalous  reports, 
refused  to  attend  class  and  prayer  meetings;  and,  notwithstanding 
the  man}-  admonitions  the}'  had  from  their  brethren,  still  persisting 
in  their  obstinac}-,  were  expelled  Dec.  25,  1802." 

"Henr}'  N of  Canaan,  forsaking  our  meetings,  was  repeatedly 

admonished  b}-  letter  and  otherwise,  but  he,  continuing  in  negli- 
gence, was  expelled  June  11,  1803." 

"Heniy  H expelled  Jan.   1804  for  publicly  railing  against 

Joseph  Fairbanks,  Preacher,  and  calling  the  power  of  religion  a 
delusion." 

In  1805  Elijah  Willard  was  appointed  to  Athens,  \'"t.,  and  Hen- 
ry Martyn  to  Cirantham  Circuit  with  II.  Field.  But  Mr.  Willard, 
feeling  deeply  impressed  that  his  work  in  this  part  of  the  Master's 
vine3-ard  was  not  done,  sought  a  change  of  appointment  for  awhile 
with  Mr.  Martyn.  The  latter  free  from  all  the  prejudices  or  sus- 
picions of  mere  rivalship  entered  heartily  into  the  projects  of  Mr. 
Willard,  and,  surrendering  his  own  chances  of  success  on  his  cir- 
cuit, joyfully  left  the  former  pastor  to  his  old  held  of  labor,  and 
himself  went  as  preacher  to  Athens.  The  result  was  what  might 
have  been  exi)ected.  Mr.  Willard  was  successful  in  his  work,  a 
precious  revival  of  religion  occured  at  Draper's  corners,  several 
families  being  converted.  Mrs.  Mason,  an  inlliiential  lad}',  encour- 
aged the  work  by  opening  her  own  home  to  meetings.  She  i)ecanie  a 
Methodist,  and  als(j  iier  daughter  Elliana,  afterwards  the  wife  and 
widow  of  Rev.  Caleb  Duslin.  From  this  lliiid  introduction  of 
Meth(jdisni  into  Clarcmont,  and  the  organizations  growing  out  of 
it,  sprang  the  present  development  of  the  movement  her(\  A 
class  was  Ibrnied   under  the  Ieadershi[)   of  Jacob  .Smith,  of  I'nity, 


10  msToUMAI,    SKKTCII    OF 

a  local  pioachcr,  mid  ft  gctioroiis,  iiHcfiil,  lahoriou.s  maiu  Ills 
rending  was  chiefly  .in  the  Scriptures,  and  here  he  obtained  ex- 
tensive knowledge.  His  generosity  sparkles  in  succeeding  years, 
aUbnliiig  encouragement  to  the  itinerant  ambassador  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  that  might  come  in  his  way.  On  one  of  those  times 
he  delivered  his  own  new  overcoat  to  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Merrill,  the 
Presiding  Elder,  who,  thinly  clad,  was  obliged  to  endure  the  rigors 
of  a  New  England  winter. 

In  early  winter  following  the  change  between  AVillard  and  Mar- 
tyn,  each  returned  to  his  original  appointment.  Mr.  Martin  was 
an  earnest,  faithful  preacher,  and  after  a  short  race  on  earth  was 
taken  to  his  reward. 

Methodism,  exhil>iting  the  characteristic  energy-  of  its  early 
movements,  encountered  in  Claremont  its  usual  opposition  and 
reproach.  The  savor  of  "its  original  odiousncss  smelled  in  the 
nostrils''  of  sectarians  and  the  irreligious  as  in  the  beginning. 
Those  who  showed  favor  to  its  progi'css,  or  sympathized  with  ,its 
spirit,  were  subjected,  bj-  their  simple  credulitj',  to  the  ridicule  of 
others.  The  venerable  John  Brodhead,  Presiding  Elder  of  the 
New  Hampshire  District  this  year,  1805,  a  man  emincntl}-  entitled 
to  respect,  no  one  possessing  more  or  greater  qualifications  to  com- 
mand it,  shared  also  in  the  reproaches  cast  upon  Methodists. 
Passing  through  the  village  on  his  way  to  Green  Mountain,  to  the 
house  of  Eliakim  Stevens,  where  he  had  an  appointment  to  preach, 
the  encouragement  often  extended  to  Methodist  pioneers  was  ten- 
dered to  him  in  the  hootings  and  ribald  yells  of  a  gang  of  young 
men.  "But,"  said  the  preacher,  in  his  evening  lecture,  alluding  to 
the  insults  he  had  encountered,  "it  does  not  disturb  us  to  have  the 
devil's  dogs  bark.  The"  spirit  of  Methodism,  thus  aptlj',  though 
quaintly,  expressed,  was  not  damped,  but  gathering  vigor  from 
hostilit}-,  prosecuted  still  its  mission  of  love  to  the  unsaved. 

In  18()G,  under  the  labors  of  Caleb  Dustin  and  Benjamin  Bishop, 
the  work  gradualh'  unfolded.  The  following  conference  ^ear  War- 
ren Bannister  delighted  the  people  with  his  singing,  which  was 
excellent,  but  beyond  this  there  seems  to  have  been  no  gi-eat  pros- 
perity. 

During  the  following  year,  1808,  however,  under  the  labors  of 
Caleb  Duslin,  the  preacher  in  charge,  and  Thomas  Skeels,  a  great 
revival  took  place.    Mr.  Skeels,  though  not  on  this  circuit,  frequent- 


METHODISM    IX    CLAKEMONT.  1  1 

ly  visited  here,  and  his  Uibors  were  eminentl}-  successful.  Powerful 
manifestations  of  the  Spirit  attended  the  gatherings.  Tlie  venera- 
ble Asa  Dinsmore,  alive  in  1853,  when  Mr.  McLaughlin  wrote 
the  sketch  of  this  revival,  was  converted  under  the  labors  of  Mr. 
Skeels,  received  into  the  church  by  Mr.  Dustin  and  made  a  class- 
leader.  Mr.  Dinsmore  said:  "We  did  not  take  up  with  a  cold 
meeting,  but  we  had  warm  hearts."  S3'mpathy  in  some  cases, 
curiosit}'  and  malice  in  others,  impelled  many  to  attend  the  meet- 
ings of  the  Methodists,  and  many  were  thus  brought  to  mingle 
with  the  sect  that  was  everywhere  spoken  against,  finiling  their 
doctrines  to  be  the  power  and  wisdom  of  God.  The  haughty,  the 
hardened  and  self-wille<^l  became  as  readily  the  subjects  of  saving 
grace  as  the  affable  and  tender. 

The  conversion  of  Asa  Dinsmore  illustrates  the  sturdy  godloss- 
ness  to  be  assailed,  and  the  surprising  power  of  truth  which  sub- 
dued and  fashioned  for  its  own  designs.  Dinsmore  was  a  hard 
young  man.  Discussing  with  some  congenial  minds  the  merits  of 
the  Methodists  and  their  personal  aggressiveness  Dinsmore's  vehe- 
mence elicited  the  jocose  remark.  "You  had  better  look  out  and 
steer  clear  of  them,  for  if  they  get  hold  of  you,  you're  taken!" 
With  an  oath  Dinsmore  replied,  doubling  and  shaking  his  fist,  "I 
should  like  to  see  a  Methodist  minister  talking  to  me  !  I'd  straight- 
en him  I"  To  prove  his  fortitude  and  powers  he  went  to  meeting — 
"they  got  hold  of  him" — and  though  after  a  diirereut  fashion,  not 
the  minister,  but  himself  — "got  straightened."  The  hue  and  cry 
against  the  new  sect  increased  until  the  ver}'  boys  were  eager  to 
join  in.  Col.  Glidden  said  that  even  as  he  went  daily  to  his  mill 
from  the  old  homestead  he  used  to  be  teased  and  fretted  to  great 
impatience  until  he  dreaded  to  go  over  the  road,  b}-  the  children 
who  greeted  him  as  he  approached,  and  screamed  after  him  when 
he  had  passed — "Your  mother's  a  Methodist!"  But  at  length  Mr. 
Dustin  thought  the  time  had  come  when  the  disposition  to  revile 
ajid  abuse  might  appropriately  be  made  a  topic  of  open  discourse. 
He  accordingl}-  analNzed  the  pnnci[)les  from  which  such  conduct 
sprang,  and  portrayed  its  baleful  ertects  both  in  religious  and  social 
life.  The  happy  influences  of  his  sermon  were  generally  felt, 
causing  the  voice  of  aspersion  and  ridicule  to  grow  less  clamorous, 
and  gratlualU'  give  way  to  the  tones  of  mutual  respect. 

The  struggling  cause  was  also  able  to  lind  encouragement  in  the 


12 


IlISTOUirAI.    SKKTCII    OK 


celclu-itv  of  M.'irtin  Riitor,  who  in  1801) — 10  was  I'rcsiding  ?:ider 
of  the  New  Iljunpsliirc  District.  His  Quarterly  Meetings  in  Unity 
kindh'd  liie  ptnlcstrian  zeal  of  many  in  Claroniont,  wlio  gladly  per- 
formed the  jonrncy  on  foot  to  listen  to  his  eloquence.  Clarcmont 
was  visited  with  some  revival  in  1810,  as  it  spread  from  Unity 
and  Nortli  Charlcstown  where  there  had  been  a  gi'aeious  outpouring 
of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

The  internal  liabilites  of  the  Claremont  membership  and  their 
efforts  in  tlie  work  of  mutual  Christian  discipline,  may  be  inferred 
from  the  extant  report  of  a  committee,  made  in  1811, — in  the  case 
of  two  women  who  had  been  called  to  account  for  their  bickerings. 

The  report  runs  thus:     "vSister  R is  guilty  of  unchristian-like 

temper  in  the  affair  of  the  web,  and  also  in  this  meeting.     Sister 

P is  guilty  of,  and  has  manifested  the  same  in  both  instances. 

Sister  R and  Sister  P are  required  to  confess  the  above 

to  each  other  and  the  class,  and  also  to  forgive  each  other." 

The  members  in  full  connection,  March  25,  1814,  were  as  fol- 
lows : 

Class  First. 


Eliakim  Stevens,  Leader, 
Zina  Redfield,  Assist. 
Mary  McGloflin, 
Daniel  Fiske, 
Polly  Davis, 
Mar}-  Ballon, 
Martha  Alden, 
Mary  Gordon,  T. 
Nancy  Ballon,  T. 

Class 
Asa  Dinsmore,  Leader, 
Abigail  Dinsmore, 
Ruth  Moore, 
Beria  Alden, 
Christiana  Barnard, 
Betsey  Witty  (or  Witcy) 
Alfred  Ashley,  T. 
Elizabeth  Sheldon, 
Betsey  Dustin, 


Margaret  Mc  Coud}', 
Trial  Bates, 

"Walker, 

Sally  Emerson, 
Sally  McGloflin 
Jeremiah  Westcott, 
Triphena  Redfield, 
Eliza  Walker. 

Second. 

Caleb  Dustin, 
Ethana  Dustin, 
Thomas  Davis, 
Nathaniel  Draper, 
Walter  Bingham, 
Philena  Clemare, 
Augusta  INIeecham, 
Sybbyl  Redfield. 


METHODISM    IN    CLAREMONT.  lii 

In  addition  to  the  above  list,  which  ]Mr.  Me  Laughlin  copied 
from  records  in  Grantham,  there  was  found  a  class  paper  in  the 
possession  of  Asa  Dinsmore,  dated  Jan.  21,  1813,  containing  the 
following  additional  names :  Chandler  Redfield,  Betsey  Kedfleld. 
Still  another  pai)er  dated  about  two  years  before,  March  1,  1811, 
furnishes  the  following  names  of  members. 

Theodora  Bates,  Samuel  Draper, 

Elisha  Sheldon,  Sukey  Giddings, 

Jacob  Smith,  Robert  Ashley, 

Elizabeth  Glidden,  Sarah  Smith, 

Asenath  Bull,  Ira  Smith, 
Martha  Baker. 

This  class  embraced  all  living  in  the  neighborhood  of  Bible  Hill, 
in  Unity  as  well  as  Claremont. 

The  first  effort  of  the  Methodists  to  furnish  themselves  with  a 
meeting  house  in  Claremont  was  made  in  1815.  Their  circum- 
stances seemed  to  justify  and  require  them  to  improve  the  oppor- 
tunity then  aflforded  of  uniting  with  the  Universalists  and  Baptists, 
which  the}'  accordingly  did,  and  these  three  denomination  erected 
their  church  upon  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Episcopal  Church. 
The  social  meetings  of  the  Methodists  were  held  as  heretofore  in 
the  school  house  at  Draper's  Corner.  In  181 G  the  circuit  includ- 
ing Claremont  was  named  Unity  Circuit.  Its  quarterly  ^Meetings 
were  held  in  turns  at  Unit}',  Charlestown,  New  Grantham,  Mar- 
low,  Claremont,  Sutton  and  Lempster. 

Claremont  seems  but  now  to  have  attained  sufficient  importance 
to  be  favored  with  the  extraordinary  privilege  of  regular  quarterly 
meetings.  The  first  one  ever  held  in  this  place,  as  noted  before, 
was  May  7,  1801,  at  which  the  collections  on  the  circuit  for  the 
quarter  were  reported  at  8  22.58,  The  second  Quarterly  ]\Ieeting 
was  held  under  the  regular  plan  of  the  Unity  Circuit,  Aug.  5,  G,  1815. 
The  collections  for  the  quarter,  reported  from  the  whole  circuit,  were 
8  24.30. 

At  a  quarterly  meeting  held  Nov.  11,  1818  an  incident  occurred 
which  shows  the  strict  ways  of  discipline  in  those  times.  The 
love-feast  was  appointed  as  usual,  and  at  the  hour  for  it  to  l)egin 
the  doors  were  closed,  as  the  rules  were,  mu\  after  that  no  one 
could  enter.     Both  the  preacher  in  charge,  Caleb  Dustin,  and  the 


14  llISTdKICAI.    .SKKT(  11    OK 

I'rc.sidiiii;  Kldt  r,  A.  Taylor,  wen;  too  liite  for  admission.  By  and 
bye,  wlicii  tlic  nv(  rend  dclinfjurnts  nirivod,  unsuspiciously  they 
proc('C(|«'(l  lo  the  "I\':i8t  of  love,"  l)iit,  alas  !  "the  door  was  shut," 
and  they  wlio  had  viirorcdisly  preached  punctuality  to  others,  were 
themselves  shut  out.  The  excluded  elders,  mortified  at  their  tar- 
diness, to  evade  observation,  save  ridicule,  and  the  cause  from 
contempt,  lietook  "themselves  over  back  into  the  woods"  in  pious 
excursion. 

In  181  !t  .Ml'.  I'arlcy,  tlie  Congregationalist  minister,  who  had  a 
rough  side  tnwnid  Methodists,  resigned,  and  his  people  hired  Ca- 
leb Dustin  who  had  located  in  Claremont  to  supply  their  pulpit 
a  few  weeks.  The  antagonism  which  had  hitherto  been  cherished 
still  betrayed  itself  though  circumstances  warranted  but  a  sub- 
dued development.  The  noon  after  Mr.  Dustin's  first  sermon 
witnessed  a  general  discussion  of  qualities  of  the  morning  sermon, 
and  those  who  gladly  heard  the  word,  and  those  who  cautiously 
weighed  what  had  been   said,  were  about  equall}-  divided.     The 

good  Deacon  P was  assailed   for  his  opinion,  b}-  some  of  the 

subordinates.  Deeming  it  imprudent  to  depreciate  the  sermon  or 
the  preacher,  he  evaded  committal  for  awhile,  but  being  heavily 
pressed  lie  replied  after  long  hesitation,  in  terms  as  strong  as  his 
critical  ability  and  pious  suspicions  would  allow — "He's  a  Method- 
ist!" The  Methodists  were  obliged  to  submit  to  many  misrep- 
resentations, some  ludicrous,  some  severe.  One  just  gone  to  his 
reward,  F.  A.  Henry,  told  me  of  the  correctings  he  received  when 
a  boy  for  daring  to  attend  a  Methodist  meeting.  So  sharp  were 
the  persecutions  fuialh'  made  that  the  public  Methodist  social 
meetings  were  broken  up,  and  the}-  had  to  repair  to  private  houses 
for  that  purpose. 

John  Lord,  a  giant  both  in  person  and  courage,  travelled  the 
circuit  in  1H20-1,  and  had  for  an  assistant  Abram  Ilalwa}-.  A 
great  revival  took  place  during  this  time,  among  the  most  remark- 
able that  have  ever  been  in  Claremont.  The  Baptists  participated 
in  the  work.  About  one  hundred  were  converted,  most  of  whom 
joined  the  Methodists.  The  families  of  Asa  Dinsmore,  Mr.  Mann, 
Mr.  Lovell,  T.  Davis,  X.  Howard,  and  others  were  converted. 
Rev.  J.  S.  Smith  was  also  converted  at  this  time,  first  joining  the 
Baptists,  and  then  coming  to  the  ^Methodists. 

During  the  year  1821  the  Baptists  and  Universalists,  who  had 


METHODISM    IN    CLARKMONT.  15 

with  tlie  Methodists  owned  and  occupied  a  church  in  town,  sold 
their  part  of  the  Church  to  the  EpiscopaUans,  and  then  the  house 
was  put  under  repairs.  But  fatal  to  the  pride  of  the  Methodists 
when  the}-  were  anticipating  the  enjoyment  of  tlieir  fourtli  (Quarter- 
ly Meeting  which  was  appointed  for  Aug.  18,  in  tlicir  newlj-  and 
beautifulh-  finished  house,  the  Episcopalians  refused  its  occupan- 
C}',  as  it  was  now  too  handsome  and  valuable  to  be  desecrated  by  a 
Quarterly  Meeting  performance.  Determined,  however,  to  enjoy 
their  Quarterly  Meeting  in  Claremont  and  retain  its  influence  on 
the  people,  the  INIethodists  cast  about  them  for  other  accommoda- 
tion. Asa  Dinsmore,  no  less  interested  than  his  brctlu'cn,  offered  to 
provide  for  it  in  his  barn  and  orchard  at  Draper's  Corners,  and  the 
place  being  accepted  as  the  most  available,  he  gladly  prepared  for 
it,  expecting  to  see  his  field  full  of  people  and  of  that  power  which 
sla3's  and  makes  alive.  As  the  day  approaclied  however,  Mr.  Chase, 
landlord  of  the  Sullivan  House,  and  a  Uuiversalist,  learning  the 
predicament  of  the  Metliodists,  generously  jjroposed  to  accommodate 
the  meeting  on  his  premises,  designating  as  a  preaching  place  a 
large  new  horse-barn  he  had  just  been  finishing,  and  his  dancing 
hall  was  offered  for  the  love-feast.  His  proposals  were  gratefully 
accepted,  the  orchard  project  was  abandoned,  and  Mr.  Chase's 
premises  being  duly  arranged,  the  meeting,  one  of  great  power  and 
jo}',  was  held  there.  Mr.  Lindsay  the  Presiding  Elder,  preached 
in  the  demonstration  of  the  Spirit,  and  the  recollection  of  this  meet- 
ing will  remain  as  long  as  an}'  live  who  were  present. 

At  this  Quarterl}-  Meeting  the  Spirit  of  the  times  in  regard  to  fi- 
nances was  indicated  by  the  vote  "that  each  member  of  the  Q.  M. 
Conference  encourage  a  Cent  Society."  Perhaps  this  was  with  the 
honorable  design  to  raise  from  each  class  on  the  circuit,  its  propor- 
tion towards  the  support  of  the  preacher.  At  a  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence held  in  Marlow  Sept.  2,  1820  it  was  "voted  to  give  S  .!.'>  per 
week  for  Sister  Lord's  board",  and  also  "voted  to  give  S  l.UO  per 
week  for  Brother  Lord's  board" — indications  at  least  that  the 
board-bill  of  the  preaclierand  his  wife  should  he  \yAu\  wilhoul  mak- 
ing him  responsible  for  it. 

It  was  voted,  at  a  Quarterly  conference  held  in  Claremont  Dec. 
27,  1H23  "to  make  exertions  to  get  a  preacher's  house  and  that  .la- 
cob  Perkins,  Eliakim  Stevens,  Ediinnid  Perle}',  Amos  'I\'niiry  and 
Jacob  Wright  be  a  committee  to  concoct  measures  to  l)in  or  build 


K;  iiisrouicAi,  skktcii   ok 

said  lioiisc."  Lator,  at  riiily  Man-li  (\,  1H21  it  was  votod  "tliut  the 
pnr.sonaf^c  Ikmisc  committee  continue  tlieir  cxerlioiiH  to  ^nt  snltscrip- 
tions  to  build  said  house  in  I'nity."  At  a  quarterly  conference 
held  in  Marlow,  Nov.  20,  1H24,  it  was  recorded  that  the  parson- 
age-house couiniittee  reported  and  were  dismissed  from  any  further 
service,"  and  also  it  was  voted  "that  N.  O.  Way  be  api>ointed  a 
committee  of  one  to  Ixiy  or  l)nild  a  parsonage  house." 

The  ellbrts  t(;  obtain  a  parsonage  at  this  time  were  not  success- 
ful, for  in  C^iarterly  Conference  in  Marlow,  Aug.  18,  1820,  "N. 
().  \\  ;i\ .  N.  Howard,  and  S.  Koyce  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
see  what  can  be  done  towards  buying  or  building  a  preacher's 
hou'se  on  the  circuit." 

The  first  mention  of  a  camp-meeting  on  the  circuit  is  found  in 
the  records  ol"  a  Quarterly  Conference  held  in  INIarlow,  April  30, 
18-2;"),  and  reads  as  follows — "Voted  to  hold  a  camp-meeting  in 
Unity,  commencing  Sept  G." 

After  the  Methodists  were  ejected  from  their  church,  the  other 
two  thirds  of  which  was  owned  by  the  Episcopalians,  they  held 
their  meetings  for  some  time  at  Draper's  Corner.  They  then  hired 
an  old,  red  cabinet  shop  on  AVashington  Street,  near  the  "Old  Fiske 
Store."  At  this  time  Rev.  Abraham  D.  Meirill,  who  went  to  his  re- 
ward in  1878.  was  on  the  circuit.  Following  this  place  of  worship  they 
hired  the  hall  in  the  "Old  Clark  Tavern,"  North  Street,  wiiich  was 
occupied  about  two  years.  In  this  hall  Wilbur  Fisk,  and  other 
able,  godly  men  preached  the  word. 

In  182G  the  ability  of  the  ^lethodists  in  Clareniont  warranted 
them  in  undertaking  to  build  a  meeting  house,  for  themselves,  and 
in  a  Quarterly  Conference  held  Jan.  4,  it  was  accordingh-  "voted 
to  raise  a  ccjuimittee  of  three  to  estimate  the  sum,  and  obtain  sub- 
scriptions, to  build  a  meeting-house  in  Claremont."  Nathan 
Howard,  Thomas  Davis,  and  Eli  Draper  were  appointed  said  com- 
mittee. Eliakim  Stevens,  Nathan  Howard,  Thomas  Davis,  Asa 
Dinsniore,  and  Eli  Draper  were  constituted  "Trustees."  Tiie  en- 
terprise was  at  once  begun. 

The  motives  and  principles  which  actuated  in  this  undertaking 
may  be  inferred  from  the  heading  of  its  subscription  papers,  which 
are  dated  Jan.  10,  1820.  "Whereas  it  is  the  duty  of  all  that  have 
means  and  opportunities  to  promote  the  public  worship  of  Al- 
mighty God,  and  whereas,  the  Society  of  the  M.  E.  Church  in 


METHODISM    IN    CLAREMONT.  17 

Claremont,  N.  IL,  labors  under  man}'  inconveniences  and  em- 
barrassments for  want  of  a  house  of  public  worsliip,  therefore 
we,  the  subscribers,  promise  topa}-  the  sum  set  against  each  of  our 
names,  respectively,  to  the  said  Methodist  Societ}-,  or  a  committee 
which  they  shall  appoint,  to  be  by  them  aj)propriated  for  the 
erecting  a  free  house  of  public  worship  in  or  near  the  village,  in 
said  Claremont,  of  such  dimensions  as  shall  bjvthembe  judged 
suitable,  and  upon  such  principles  as  shall  accord  Avitli  the  disci- 
pline and  usages  of  their  church," 

A  glimpse  of  the  efforts  required  to  raise  the  preacher's  salary* 
is  given  b}'  a  vote  recorded  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Quarterly 
Conference  at  Lempster,  April  26,  1H2G,  It  was  "voted  to  have  a 
wool-fund  on  this  circuit"  and  that  "N,  O,  Wa}-  and  A.  Houghton 
be  a  committee  to  form  a  constitution  for  said  fund."  and  also  "to 
have  a  subscription  paper  to  collect  wool  for  the  preacher" — not 
for  him  to  pull  over  the  e3"es  of  the  people,  but  that  he  might  b^- 
means  of  this  secure  raiment  and  food  for  himself  and  family. 
Thus  a  devoted  laity  strained  every  nerve  in  aiding  a  devoted  min- 
istry to  sustain  and  enlarge  the  Master's  Kingdom, 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  held  Jan.  26  of  this  year,  the  following 
Board  of  Officers  was  chosen  : 

Eliakim  Stevens  President, 

Nathan  Howard,  Secretary, 

Thomas  Davis,  Treasurer  and  Agent, 

Asa  Dinsmore,  Trustee, 

Nathan  Howard,  " 

Eliakim  Stevens,  " 

Thomas  Davis,  " 

Harvey  jNIc  Laughlin,  " 
At  this  meeting  the  Society  "voted  to  proceed  to  build  a  chap- 
el for  public  worship,"  and  that  "Thomas  Davis,  Eliakim  Stevens 
and  Nathan  Howard  be  a  committee  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to 
purchase  a  site  for,  and  superintend  the  building  of  said  Cliaj)el." 
Mr.  Austin  Tyler,  a  man  of  no  particular  denominational  affinities, 
but  sympathizing  with  the  Methodists  because  of  the  unkind ness 
and  contumely  with  which  they  had  generall}'  been  treated,  mag- 
nanimously offered  them  a  very  eligible  site  on  Sullivan  Street,  as 
a  gift,  which  with  becoming  gratitude,  was  accepted.  When  the 
timber  was  collected,  the  brethren,  desirous  of  securing  the  bless- 


18  IlISTOKICAI,    SKKTf'H    OF 

ing  of  (lo<l  upon  thoir  liiiinhlo  cllbrt,  solicilcd  the  services  of  the 
Uov.  Mr.  Nye,  the  Congregiitionnl  preacher,  as  tlieir  own  was  too 
remote  on  other  parts  of  the  circuit  to  be  conveniently  called. 
Mr.  Nye  met  them  in  the  lot  containing  the  scattered  materials  for 
the  chapel,  and  solemnly  invoked  divine  aid  on  the  workers  and 
the  work.  The  meeting  liouse  was  raised,  partly  finished,  and 
occupied  for  service  through  the  summer  season  in  this  condition, 
the  congregation  sitting  on  rough  scats,  men  on  one  side  of  the 
house,  women  on  the  other,  while  the  carpenter's  bench  made  the 
minister's  pulpit.  The  house  being  finally  completed  was  dedicated 
in  Decenil)er,  1820.  the  sermon  l)eing  preached  by  Rev.  B.  K.  Iloyt. 

At  this  point  the  Methodists  could  breathe,  and  look  about  them. 
Thirty-two  years  had  elapsed  since  the  first  class  had  been  form- 
ed, a  hnndful  on  the  side  of  Green  Mountain,  converted  under 
Dow's  preaching.  The  mountain-dwellers  have,  in  all  history,  con- 
ferred mightiest  benefit  on  those  not  living  as  near  heaven  as 
themselves.  The  leader  of  that  first  class  now  saw  a  church 
built  and  dedicated,  and  himself  one  of  the  trustees.  Thirty- 
two  years  of  struggles,  faith,  triumph,  and  the  edifice  standing  as 
an  Ebcn-ezer,  a  practical  fact  that  up  to  that  time  the  Lord  had 
helped  them.  Instead  of  one  class,  several ;  from  meetings  held 
in  a  private  house  the}-  had  successive!}'  passed  to  school  houses, 
thence  to  a  third  interest  in  a  small  church,  from  there  to  hired 
halls,  small  and  inconvenient — now  they  had  a  commodious  church 
all  their  own,  finished,  dedicated.  Forward  again,  to  other  and 
greater  conquests. 

On  Aug.  11,  1827,  at  a  Quarterly  Conference  held  in  Lempster, 
the  wool  project  is  further  noticed.  The  record  runs:  "Jacob 
Perkins,  Thomas  Davis,  Edmund  Perley,  Amos  Tenny,  Samuel 
Ro3ce,  Jacob  Wright,  Amos  Rowell,  and  Amos  Kidder  were  ap- 
jjointed  a  committee  to  see  what  can  be  done  toward  raising  the 
sheep-fund." 

The  Sunday  School  seems  first  to  have  arrested  the  attention  of 
the  Quarterly  Conference  in  182i),  for  in  its  session  held  at  Unity, 
Jan.  10,  the  matter  was  discussed,  and  the  Board  resolved  itself 
into  a  societ}'  under  the  following  constitution  : 

"Art.  1.  This  Association  shall  be  called  the  Unity  Circuit 
Sunda}'  School  Branch  Society  of  the  Vermont  District  Sundaj- 
School  Society,  auxiliary  to  the  S.  S.  Union  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 


METHODISM    IN    CLAREMONT.  19 

Art.  2  The  ol)ject  of  this  Society  shall  be  to  establish,  regu- 
late, and  support  Sunday  School  instruction  among  the  children 
and  3"0uth  of  this  circuit. 

Art.  3  The  business  of  this  Society  shall  be  conducted  by  a 
President,  Vice  President,  Secretar}-,  Treasurer  and  Managers. 
The  Presiding  Elder  for  the  time  being  shall  be  the  President,  and 
the  preacher  in  charge  the  Vice  President,  who  shall  preside  in  the 
absence  of  the  President.  The  Secretary'  and  Treasurer  shall  be 
members  of  the  Quarterlj-  Couferecce  anil  shall  be  chosen  by  the 
same  at  the  annual  meeting.  The  Quarterly  Conference  shall  con- 
stitute the  Board  of  Managers.  The  money  raised  by  the  Society 
shall  be  laid  out  to  purchase  such  books  and  tracts  as  are  publish- 
ed and  approved  by  the  parent  Society'. 

Art.  4.  Each  adult  male  paying  twenty  five  cents  or  upwards 
annually  shall  be  a  member  and  each  female  or  child  paying  twelve 
and  a  half  cents  or  upwards  shall  also  be  a  meml)er,  and  the  pay- 
ment of  four  dollars  or  upwards  at  any  one  time  shall  constitute  a 
member  for  life. 

Art.  5.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  have  authority  to  make 
by-laws  to  regulate  its  own  proceedings,  fill  vacancies,  and  shall 
report  annuall}'  to  the  Society,  a  copy  of  which  shall  be  sent  to  the 
District  Society. 

Art.  6.  The  Annual  INIeeting  of  this  Society  shall  be  holden 
on  the  first  day  of  the  third  Quarterly  Meeting  in  each  Conference 
year." 

Erom  the  records  of  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  May  31,  1*^31, 
held  in  Lempster,  we  read  again  of  the  circuit  parsonage.  "Ja- 
cob Wright,  James  Carroll,  and  Jacob  Perkins  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  assist  the  preacher  in  charge  in  superintending  the  buiUl- 
ing  of  a  preacher's  house." 

At  a  quarterly  Conference  held  in  Clinrlestown,  Sept.  29, 1832.  the 
first  official  action  in  the  cause  of  JNIissions  was  reported.  The 
Board  formed  itself  into  a  society  under  the  following  Constitution. 

"Art.  1.  The  Society  shall  be  called  the  Unity  Circuit  Branch 
of  the  New  Hampshire  Conference  Missionr.ry  Socict}-,  auxiliary 
to  the  Missionary  Society  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 

Art.  2.  The  ofTlcers  of  this  Society  shall  be  a  Secretary,  and 
a  Treasurer,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  circulate  subscii|)tions, 
and  collect  and  forward  monies  to  the  treasurer  of  the  N.  II.  Con- 


20  HISTOinCAI-    SKK'KH    OK 

ference  Missionary  Society :  and  also  to  report  at  tlie  last  Quarter- 
ly Conference  of  each  year,  the  whole  amount  of  money  received." 
Anr.  3.  Any  person  by  suh.scril)ing  to  these  articles,  and  pay- 
ing one  cent  monthly,  or  twelve  cents  annually,  shall  be  an  annual 
memlter:  and  by  the  payment  of  four  dollars  at  any  one  time 
shall  1)0  a  life  member.  If  any  person  pay  more  than  twelve  cents 
annually  it  shall  be  credited  to  him. 

AuT.  4.  As  a  matter  of  expediency  the  preacher  or  preachers 
on  the  circuit,  shall  l)e  the  oHlcers  for  the  time  being." 

The  ollicial  members  of  Claremont  believing  that  their  interests 
as  a  church  might  be  promoted  better  if  detached  from  the  circuit 
voted  this  year,  1833,  a  request  to  be  separated  from  the  other 
places,  and  constituted  a  distinct  appointment.  At  a  quarterly 
Conference  held  at  Unity,  June  29,  1833  it  was  "voted  that 
Charlestown,  and  Claremont  become  stations."  But  the  Quarterl}' 
Conference  included  Unity,  Claremont  and  Charlestown  until  the 
Conference  year  of  1835-6. 

The  number  of  members  reported  from  Claremont,  the  close  of 
its  first  year  as  a  station,  is  ninet}'.  At-  the  first  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence, the  new  station  had  formed  itself  into  a  Missionar}-  Society. 
The  first  stationed  preacher  was  C.  W.  Levings,  but  matters  were 
not  prosperous,  and  at  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  June  25,  1886, 
his  dismission  from  the  charge  at  his  own  request  was  assented  to 
and  he  left. 

In  1H36,  John  Jones,  following  Mr.  Levings,  was  successful  in 
his  work,  but  was  greath'  impeded  by  a  long  course  of  sickness. 
The  people  helped  him  in  a  characteristic  manner.  To  meet  the 
expenses  of  his  illness  the  sum  of  S73.18  was  raised  over  and 
above  his  regular  salarj',  and  awarded  him  as  a  gift — this  being 
the  whole  amount  of  expenses  incurred  by  his  sickness.  He  re- 
ported 119  members. 

The  next  year  Moses  Chase  was  the  preacher,  and  the  place  was 
favored  with  S,  revival  of  great  power.  So  man}*  were  the  addi- 
tions that  he  reported  the  membership  at  221. 

At  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society,  Sept.  4,  1837,  "Charles 
H.  INIaiui,  Erastus  Clark,  and  Frederick  A.  Henrj'  were  made  a 
committee  to  see  how  a  house  lot  could  be  bought,  and  a  parson- 
age-house built."  An  adjourned  meeting,  held  Sept.  16,  "voted 
to  proceed  in  the  building  of  a  house  as  soon  as  6  400  should  be 


METIIOPISM    IN    CLAREMONT.  21 

raised  ;"  this  sum  was  iminediatel}'  pledged,  and  Samuel  Tuthcrly, 
William  Proctor  and  Frederick  A.  Henry  were  appointed  a  build- 
ing committee  whose  services  should  be  paid.  But  at  a  meeting 
held  .Sept.  18,  this  committee  excused  themselves,  and  Moses  A. 
Howe,  Joseph  Swett,  and  Erastus  Clark  were  appointed  in  their 
places;  M.  A.  Howe  and  Abram  Folsom  were  made  a  committee 
to  obtain  suljscriptions.  The  parsonage  movement  was  encouraged 
in  several  succeeding  meetings  of  the  societj%  until  June  IG,  1838, 
when  it  was  determined  to  enlarge  the  meeting-house  twenty-eiglit 
slips  and  give  it  some  other  repairs,  upon  which  it  was  decided 
that  the  parsonage  subscriptions  be  null  and  void. 

In  January,  1838,  the  Quarterly'  Conference  resolved  itself  into 
a  Domestic  Missionar}'  Society',  auxiliar}'  to  the  Domestic  ^Mission, 
ar}'  Society  of  the  N.  H.  Conference,  and  appointed  the  following 
for  its  officers. 

Rev.  Moses  Chase,  President, 
Erastus  Clark,  Vice  President, 
Moses  A.  Howe,  Secretary', 
Abram  Folsom,  Treasurer. 

Managers:  Frederick  A.  Heiuy,  Charles  H.  Mann,  L.  D. 
Thwing,  Joseph  Swett,  Philander  Wallingford. 

In  1838,  Rev.  William  H.  Hatch  succeeded  Mr.  Chase  in  the 
pastorate,  and  at  the  end  reported  two  hundred  and  forty-three 
members.  The  financial  responsibility  under  wliich  the  (Quarterly 
Conference  labored  is  expressed  by  this  resolution  dated  May  5, 
1838,  "Voted  that  we  consider  ourselves  morally  under  oliligations 
to  pa}'  the  preacher  who  lal)ors  with  us,  his  allowance  according  to 
discipline."  The  position  whicli  this  body  assumed  on  the  temper- 
ance question  at  this  time  is  tluis  earnestly  stated.  '*  Resolved, 
in  the  opinion  of  the  (Quarterly  Conference,  that  our  Di^st•iplihe 
prohibits  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors,  except  as  a  meilicine, 
and  that  no  person  ought  to  be  received  into  the  church  unless  he 
will  live  up  to  this  rule."  liutit  seems  that  the  church  was  some- 
what troubled  with  the  tendencies  of  some  of  its  members  to  anti- 
temperance  principles  and  practices,  for  on  April  30,  l.s;5'J,  tlie 
(.Quarterly  Conference  adopted  and  ordered  to  be  read  in  public 
congregation  the  following  resolutions  : 

"1.     That  in  our  opinion  the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks  as  a, 
beverage  is  sin. 


22  IIISTOKir'AK    SKKiril    OF 

"2.  That  if  any  iii('iiit)t'r  of  our  clmreli  in  tliis  plaoo  sliall  be 
guilty  of  so  (loiii<i-  siicli  iiiciiihcr  or  iiiciiiix'rs  oiiglit  to  he  dealt  with 
uci'onlin^  to  the  rules  of  discipline,  unless  speedy  reformation 
renders  it  unnecessary." 

Kcv.  .lames  M.  Fuller,  in  1839  succeeded  Mr.  Hatch,  and  fur- 
nished at  the  close  of  his  first  year,  the  first  recorded  Sunday 
School  Keport. 

Number  of  S.  S.  1 

OlTicers  and  Teachers,  24 

Scholars,  1 1 1 

Volumes  in  Librar}-  300 

^Ir.  Fuller  stayed  two  3'ears.  and  reported  the  numl)er  of  mem- 
bers at  201.  He  was  succeeded  by  Kev.  Eleazer  Smith.  The  last 
debt  of  the  Society  had  been  full}'  paid  the  preceding  Ma}' ;  a  sea- 
son of  great  prosperity  ensued,  many  being  added  to  the  church,  so 
he  reported  238,  as  the  memberslii[)  at  the  close  of  his  first  year. 

The  Second  Advent  or  Miller  excitement  introduced  itself  and 
threatened  the  interests  of  the  church  in  the  second  year  of  Mr. 
Smith's  pastorate.  In  a  Quarterly  Conference,  April  15,  1843,  it 
was  '-voted  that  those  brethren  who  sustain  meetings  abroad  are  re- 
quested to  refrain,  if  not  they  are  invited  respectfulh'  to  withdraw 
from  the  church."  Upon  this  action,  G.  W.  AVilson,  E.  Clark,  A.  M. 
Billings,  and  others,  immediately  withdrew.  At  the  close  of  his 
second  year  Mr.  Smith  reported  290  members.  At  this  time  the 
first  Missionar}'  collection  recorded  is  reported  at  662.50. 

The  first  time  that  the  New  Hampshire  Annual  Conference  met 
in  Claremont  was  June  21,  1843.  It  then  included  Vermont  as 
well  as  this  state.  The  other  denominations  kindly  oflfered  to  aid 
in  entertaining  the  members  of  the  Conference.  The  public  ser- 
vices were  held  in  the  Town  House.  On  the  Sabbath  an  immense 
audience  assembled,  filling  not  only  the  Town  House,  but  the 
grounds  about  it.  The  venerable"  Bishop  "Waugh,  standing  on  a 
pl,itf(n-m  erected  for  that  purpose  at  the  south  door,  proclaimed 
with  masterh'  eflect,  in  behalf  of  the  ministr}',  "We  preach  not 
ourselves,  but  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord."  None  that  listened  will  ever 
forget  the  discourse. 

Mr.  Smith  was  succeeded  in  1843  by  Rev.  Elihu  Scott.  His 
first  year's  pastorate  was  greatl}'  injured  by  the  desolating  influence 


METHODISM    IN    CLAKEMONT. 


23 


of  Millerism  ;  defections  in  the  membership  multiplying  so  that  he 
reported  but  180  members  at  the  close  of  that  year.  However,  a 
mistake  having  been  made,  evidently,  in  the  time  for  the  end  of 
the  world,  prosperity  again  returned,  and  he  reported  200  mem- 
bers at  the  end  of  the  second  year.  At  the  Quarterly  Conference 
of  Jan.  13,  1844,  three  village  classes  are  reported,  "two  doing 
well,  and  one  negligent." 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Scott's  term  the  Quarterly  Conference,  hav- 
ing tested  the  station  system,  "Voted  to  request  the  Bishop  to 
form  Claremont  Station  into  a  circuit  by  adding  one  or  more  towns 
and  to  send  two  or  more  preachers."  But  the  experience  of  a 
year  or  two  under  this  plan  reversed  the  request  and  Claremont 
has  since  remained  a  station. 

In  184o  Rev.  Silas  (^uiniby  succeeded  Mr.  Scott,  and  at  the  end  of 
the  3-ear  reported  the  membership  at  233.  He  makes  the  first  re- 
port of  contributions  from  the  station,  attainable,  besides  the  mis- 
sionar}'  collection.  The  following  was  his  report — Missionary, 
$54.92  ;  Bible  Cause,  §24.87  ;  Tract  Cause,  §3.00;  S.  S.  Union, 
84.20;    Biblical  Institute,  Concord,  §4.00. 

The  following  year.  Rev.  Justin  Spaulding  succeeded  Mr. 
Quimby.  He  reported  200  members.  The  report  of  the  estimat- 
ing committee  on  preacher's  salaiy  may  be  of  interest.  I  insert  it 
as  recorded. 

Quarterage. 

For  Brother  Spaulding  and  Wife,  $  200.00 

Two  children  at  8  16  each,  32.00 

One  child   8  24,                                               "  21.00 

Traveling  expenses,  2.'). 00 

Nine  cords  of  wood,  IM.dU 

Table  expenses,  72.00 

House  rent,  54.00 


Total,  $425.00 

The  next  year,  1847,  Rev.  Jacob  Stevens  followed  ^Iv.  Spaul- 
ding, but  was  prevented  from  laboring  long  by  sickness,  which 
linally  drove  him  to  take  a  superannuated  relation.  He  remaiiuMJ 
on  the  charge  about  three  quarters  of  the  year,  the  peopK-,  in 
addition  to  his  (juarteiage  fully  paid,  gave  him  one  hundred  dollars, 
as  the  proceeds  of  a  donation  ft'stival.  The  (.Quarterly  Conference 
this  year  took  a  position  well  delined   by  this  action:      "\'oted  to 


24  nrsTouiOAL  sKi.rfn  ok 

iidopl  .'i  minilxT  of  rosoliitious  ajfaiiist  the  circus  soon  to  1)0  exhib- 
ited in  this  phice."  It  also  records  its  inglorious  retreat,  this  3'ear, 
bt'lbrc  the  iiniovations  of  tiie  choir,  by  a  vote  consenting  to  have 
a  serapliini  in  tlie  gallery.  Matthew  Newhall,  a  superninuerary 
preacher  filled  out  the  year  for  Mr.  Stevens. 

Rev.  Joseph  C.  (.'romack  came  the  next  year,  and  reported  the 
nieniborship  at  the  end  of  his  first  year,  including  probationers, 
240,  and  for  the  secoml  year,  244.  During  this  pastorate  the 
church  bought  a  parsonage,  on  Pleasant  Street,  the  house  now 
situated  the  first  south  of  George  Fitch's,  occupied  by  Mr.  Wilkin- 
son. 

In  \S!}0  Rev.  Lewis  Howard  succeeded  Mr.  Cromack,  reporting 
221  members  the  first  year,  and  227  the  second,  including  probation- 
ers. The  first  item  found  pointing  to  pay  for  singing  is  at  a  Quar- 
terly Conference,  Jan.  31,  1H61,  when  twenty  five  dollars  were  or- 
dered paid  to  Mr.  Jonathan  Miner  for  leading  the  singing. 

The  circumstances  of  the  society  became  so  properous  and  its 
needs  so  pressing  that  in  1852  measures  were  agitated  for  a  new 
CluHcli.  In  a  Quarterl}-  Conference  Jan.  31,  they  talked  the  sub- 
ject over,  and  thought  it  best  to  try  and  build  one.  A  week  later 
a  special  meeting  of  the  society  was  called  to  consult  on  the  pro- 
priet}'  of  building  a  meeting-house,  and  adopting  measures  to  car- 
ry the  same  into  effect.  Feb.  23  the  society  "voted  to  build  a 
new  house,  and  that  Samuel  Tutherl}-  be  a  committee  to  obtain 
subscriptions."  March  4,  a  committee  of  S.  Tutherlj',  Thomas 
Sandford,  Alanson  AVay,  and  Paul  Fitch,  was  appointed  to  esti- 
mate what  sum  would  be  necessary  to  build  the  house,  and  to  di- 
vide it  into  shares.  A  plan  for  the  building  was  presented  b}' 
Paul  Fitch,  accepted,  and  Alanson  Way  was  added  to  the  commit- 
tee to  obtain  subscriptions.  At  a  meeting  held  March  6,  it  was 
voted  that  the  rent  of  pews  go  toward  the  preaching  ;  and  at  anoth- 
er held  a  week  later,  "T.  Sandford,  S.  Tutherly  and  James  Sperry 
were  made  a  committee  to  dispose  of  the  old  meeting-house  and 
lot,  purchase  a  new  lot,  raise  subscriptions  and  build  a  new  meet- 
ing-house." 

Tlie  building  committee  was  also  authorized  to  sell  the  parsonage 
and  the  trustees  were  directed  to  hold  the  funds  arising  from  that 
sale  until  they  could  build  or  purchase  another,  which  was  to  be 
done  within  six  vears.     The  trustees  were  also  authorized  to  use 


METHODISM   IN   CLAREMONT.  25 

the  money  arising  from  the  sale  of  the  parsonage  in  the  new  church 
with  the  interest  of  it  to  go  for  house-rent  for  the  preacher. 

The  building  committee,  with  F.  A.  Henrj-,  and  E.  E.  Bailey 
added  to  it,  vigorously  prosecuted  its  work,  subscriptions  to  the 
amount  of  $  2,484.50  being  speedily  obtained.  The  old  chapel  was 
sold  for  8  G.OO  and  the  parsonage  for  $  1,191,  a  new  church  lot  was 
purchased  on  Central  Street,  and  the  work  of  building  immediately 
begun. 

In  the  midst  of  the  enterprise.  Rev.  John  McLaughlin,  to  whom 
I  am  indebted  for  most  of  the  foregoing  sketch,  succeeded 
;Mr.  Howartl.  The  work  so  successfully  begun  was  pushed  to 
a  pleasing  completion.  On  Jan.  24,  1H53,  almost  exactl3'  a  j-ear 
from  the  informal  talk  of  the  Official  Board,  upon  the  subject,  the 
new  house  was  completed,  accepted  b}'  the  societj-,  and  the  build- 
ing committee  discharged.  The  cost  of  erecting  and  furnishing 
had  been  $  5,601.76,  of  which  8  4,295.21  had  been  paid,  leaving  an 
arrearage  of  8  1,306.55  and  to  go  toward  balancing  this  deficiency 
8  177.82  remained  on  hand  in  notes  and  subscriptions.  Anxious 
to  enjoy  the  accommodations  of  the  new  meeting-house,  the  annoj'- 
ance  of  a  debt  seems  to  have  been  but  lightly  considered,  and  with- 
out the  etfort  which  probably  would  have  removed  it,  the  deficiency 
was  allowed  to  remain  as  debt.  The  new  church  was  dedicated  to 
the  service  of  Almighty  God,  Jan.  25,  1853,  by  Bishop  Osmon  C. 
Baker.  The  eloquent  and  witty  Mark  Traftou  preached  in  the 
evening. 

With  the  new  house  of  worship,  jNIethodism  was  more  pros- 
perous than  ever,  and  at  once  assumed  and  has  since  sustained  a 
leading  place  among  the  churches  of  the  town,  and  the  appoint- 
ments of  the  New  Hampshire  Conference. 

INIr.  McLaughlin's  report  of  membership  was,  including  proba- 
tioners, 2.S7  for  the  first  year,  and  281  for  the  second. 

In  1854  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Frederick  A.  Ilewes.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  prosperity  continued,  and  a  valuable  work  was 
done  in  reorganizing  the  Sunday  School  and  Tract  Societies,  giving 
them  greater  prominence  and  efficiency.  Before  his  coming  the 
salary  of  the  preacher,  including  all  disciplinary  items,  was  about 
8  420  a  year.  But  at  a  Quarterly  Conference  July  24,  l.s54,  the 
estimate  was  put  at  SGOO,  showing  not  only  the  increased  ability  of 
the  society,  but  also  the  enlarged  liberality  and  views  of  the  Board. 


26  nisTonicAL  skktcii  of 

The  .second  session  of  the  X.  II.  Conference  held  in  Cluroinont, 
opened  May  2,  185G.  Bishop  E.  S.  Janes  presided.  'I'he  society 
was  now  able  to  fnrnish  entortaiiunont,  themselves,  f*jr  the  Con- 
ference and  visitors.  Services  were  held  in  the  new  church.  A 
marked  thing  of  the  session  was  the  Conference  Sermon  delivered 
by  a  former  pastor,  I?ev.  Klihii  Scott,  said  by  those  who  listened 
to  it  to  have  l)een  an  admirable  production,  and  finely  delivered. 

Mr.  Ilewes  remained  two  years,  reporting  for  the  first  year  313 
members,  and  for  the  second  year  290.  While  he  was  pastor  ef- 
forts were  made  to  pay  the  debt  remaining  on  the  church  but  failed 
through  pressure  of  hard  times. 

In  1856,  Rev.  "VV.  F.  Evans  succeeded  Mr.  Ilewes.  During 
his  first  year's  pastorate  a  vote  was  taken,  March  21,  1857,  hi  the 
Quarterly  Conference,  on  the  proposed  union  of  Vermont  and  New 
Hampshire  Conferences,  resulting  in  three  for  and  three,  against 
the  measure.  During  his  first  3ear's  pastorate,  he  was  a  delegate 
to  the  General  Conference,  tlie  pulpit  being  supplied,  during  his 
absence,  by  Rev.  P.  "Wallingford. 

During  Mr.  Evans's  pastorate  the  debt  that  had  remained  on  the 
church  since  its  dedication  was  wholly  paid. 

Mr.  Evans  was  succeeded  in  1858  by  Rev.  O.  H.  Jasper,  D.  D. 
He  looks  back  upon  his  year  at  this  station  with  pleasure,  as  do 
all  the  pastors  who  have  been  here.  While  he  was  in  charge  two 
were  licensed  to  preach,  who  entered  the  itinerancy.  Charles  N. 
Lewis  who  died  a  member  of  the  N.  H.  Conference  in  the  work  in 
1861,  greatl}'  beloved  by  his  parishoners, — and  Charles  AV.  Winches- 
ter. The  latter  was  attending  the  Academy'  in  Claremont,  and 
finished  his  college  preparation  at  Springfield,  Vt.,  and  in  1867 
graduated  at  the  Genesee  College,  N.  Y.  He  was  professor  of 
Greek  and  Latin  in  the  Fairfield  Seminary,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1869 
was  elected  to  the  Chair  of  Ancient  Languages  in  Cazenovia 
Seminary.  He  entered  the  itineracy,  Aug.  1870,  in  the  East  Gen- 
esee Conference,  has  held  important  charges,  and  is  now  stationed 
at  Rochester  N.  Y.  In  the  summer  of  1881  he,  his  wife  and  girl 
of  nine  years,  made  a  pleasant  visit  to  Claremont,  and  were 
warmly  welcomed  by  all  who  met  them. 

J.  W.  Ames,  received  local  preacher's  license,  in  1858,  and  R.  R. 
Bunnell  was  recommended  for  local  deacon's  orders  to  the  annual 
Conference,  1859. 


METHODISM    IN   CLAnEMON'T.  27 

At  the  quarterly  Conference,  March  23,  18o9,  D.  W.  Cass,  Fi- 
nancial Agent  of  the  Northfield — now  Tilton — Seminary  was  pres- 
ent, and  on  presenting  the  claims  of  that  school,  a  committee,  con- 
sisting of  P.  AV'allingford  and  O.  II.  Jasper,  was  appointed  to 
raise  for  the  Seminary  $  250  in  this  charge.  The  S.  S.  reported 
this  3'ear,  189  scholars,  27  officers  and  teachers  ;  while  the  church 
membership  was  given  at  289,  including  probationers. 

At  the  Conference  of  1860  Rev.  R.  S.  Stubbs  succeeded  Mr. 
Jasper.  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Society-,  18G0,  it  was  voted 
that  the  church  be  lighted  with  gas ;  and  "Eli  Smith  was  requested 
to  furnish  and  take  charge  of  singing,  at  his  discretion,  either  in 
the  gallery'  or  in  the  congregation." 

The  name  of  "Winthrop  Sargent  constantly  appears  both  before 
this  time,  and  after  it,  on  the  records  as  Collector ;  that  of  F.  A. 
Henry  as  President,  C.  O.  Eastman  as  Secretary,  :  nd  A.  II.  Dan- 
forth  as  Treasurer,  of  the  Society.  Their  activity-  and  hard  work 
have  extended  down  to  the  present,  and  a  grateful  community  does 
not  forget  their  usefulness.  Another  honored  name  is  that  of 
Joseph  Weber,  Editor  of  the  Northern  Advocate  in  this  town  nearly 
fort}'  years.  For  a  quarter  of  a  centur}'  he  was  Recording  Steward  ; 
for  a  still  longer  time  he  was  a  teacher  in  the  Sabbath  School,  and 
still  lives  at  an  advanced  age,  an  active  worker  for  the  Master. 

In  the  matter  of  salary  the  Quarterly  Conference  voted  to  fix  it 
at  $  GOO,  "to  increase  the  same  by  a  donation  at  the  proper  time 
to  amount  to  $  50  at  least.  "  Albert  W.  Brown  was  granted  a 
local  preacher's  license,  Oct.  16,  1861.  During  this  year  the  vote 
was  taken  b}-  the  membership  on  Lay  Delegation  in  the  General 
Conference,  the  vote  standing  for  Lay  Delegation  4,  against  it  27. 
The  way  the  finances  stood  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society, 
May  5,  1862,  ma}"  be  an  interesting  item.  "Preacher's  salary,  $650  ; 
Pew  rent,  $  475.83  ;  Festival,  $  99.60  ;  Subscription,  S  25.50  ;  total 
$600.93;  due  now,  $49.07."  The  festival  was  held  Feb.  3,  and 
was  especially  for  Mr.  Stubbs's  benefit.  The  membership  in  1862 
was  reported  at  304  members,  including  probationers. 

In  1862  Mr.  Stubbs  was  succeeded  by  Hev.  II.  II.  IlartwcU. 
During  his  first  year's  pastorate  the  Sunday  School  was  organized 
into  a  missionar}'  society  auxiliary  to  the  Conference  Missionary 
Society. 

During  his  first  year  the  Sunday  School  increased  from  200  to 


28  IIISTOUKAI.    SKKTCII    OF 

2l»'2,  and  tlic  S.  S.  Library  numbered  over  a  tlioii.sand  volumes. 
The  nienibersliip,  the  second  year,  is  reported  at  324.  During  this 
year,  Joseph  D.  "Weeks  who  was  teaching  tlie  Academy  here  was 
granted  a  license  as  local  preacher.  In  IHG'J  he  graduated  at  the 
Wesleyan  University,  Middleton,  Conn,  and  a  few  years  later  was 
elected  editor  of  the  Iron  Age,  I'ittsl^urg  Pa.  and  two  years  ago 
sent  b}'  the  U.  S.  Government  to  Europe  on  a  special  mission  con- 
nected with  iron  interests. 

In  1804  Mr.  Ilartwell  was  followed  by  Rev.  S.  G.  Kellogg.  He 
entered  on  his  duties  hopefully.  An  increase  in  the  expenses  of 
living,  and  in  the  ability  of  the  charge  to  pa}-,  were  promptly  met 
b}-  granting  a  salary  of  $  700  a  year.  Mr.  Kellogg  had  a  five 
weeks'  leave  of  absence  granted  him  to  go  to  the  arm}'  as  a  delegate 
of  the  Christian  Commission.  During  his  pastorate  of  three  j'ears 
there  seems  to  have  been  quite  a  mania  for  getting  married,  for 
he  reports  6G  couples  joined  in  wedlock.  A  debt  of  8  200  was 
lifted,  and  an  organ  worth  $  1,500  was  put  in  the  church  and  paid 
for,  and  besides  his  regular  salary  he  claims  to  have  received 
$734.(51  in  presents.  He  preached  during  those  three  3ears  380 
sermons ;  attended  69  funerals,  and  baptized  81  persons.  The 
returns  to  18G7  show  293  members  and  probationers. 

Mr.  Kellogg  was  succeeded  in  1867  bj-  Rev.  D.  C.  Babcock. 
After  a  vigorous  pastorate  of  a  few  months,  Mr.  Babcock  had  ten- 
dered him,  and  accepted,  the  Secretaryship  of  the  New  Hampshire 
State  Temperance  League,  and  Rev.  C.  W.  Millen,  was  employed 
to  supply  the  remainder  of  the  year. 

At  the  last  Quarterly  Conference  for  the  3'ear,  Mr.  Millen  was 
recommended  for  admission  to  the  Annual  Conference.  To  help 
him  in  his  life  work  he  took  one  of  Claremont's  best  women,  Miss 
Clara  Bailey,  granddaughter  of  Frederick  A.  Henry,  whose  earnest 
and  successful  work  in  this  church  covered  nearlj'  half  a  century  of 
time. 

In  1868  Rev.  S.  P.  Heath  was  appointed  to  the  station.  Coming 
with  misgivings  as  to  his  ability  to  succeed  in  the  important  charge 
he  found  a  church  and  congregation  heart}-  in  their  desire  and  wil- 
lingness to  sustain  him.  His  two  years  of  work  were  crowned  with 
substantial  success,  and  many  pleasing  memories  crowd  upon  him 
and  his  family,  as  the}-  recall  their  work  and  triumphs  here. 

A  statement  made  in  April,  18G9  will  show  the  periodicals  taken : 


METHODISM   IN   CLAREMOXT.  29 

Zion's  Herald,  26  ;  Sahhath  Advocate^  43  ;  Missionary  Advocate  50  ; 
Ladies  Repository,  9. 

Following  Mr.  Heath,  carae  Rev.  H.  L.  Kelse}-,  in  1870.  At 
the  first  C^uarterl}-  Conference  of  the  year,  held  April  27,  the  esti- 
mating committee  recommended  that  the  salarj-  be  S  1,000,  which 
was  adopted.  A  Committee  consisting  of  C.  H.  Eastman,  A.  H. 
Danforth,  Cutler  Edson,  P.  Wallingford,  and  O.  B.  AVay  was 
appointed  "to  consider  the  subject  of  a  parsonage,  cither  as  to  the 
purchase  of  a  house,  or  building  a  new  one,  make  estimates,  and 
report  at  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Societj',  the  first  of  May." 
The  action  of  the  Society  was  in  unison  with  the  wish  of  the 
Board,  for  at  the  May  naeeting,  on  motion  of  Winthrop  Sargent,  it 
was  "voted  that  the  trustees  be  instructed  to  proceed  in  the  mat- 
ter of  securing  subscriptions  for  the  purpose  of  buying  a  place,  or 
building  one  for  a  parsonage,  and  if  built  on  land  owned  by  the 
Societ}-,  the  expense  shall  not  exceed  S  2500."  It  was  voted  at 
the  same  meeting  "that  the  trustees  be  authorized  to  purchase  a 
lot  on  which  to  ])uild,  if  in  their  opinion  it  is  necessary  or  expe- 
dient." These  preliminaiy  steps  being  entered  on,  after  some  time 
the  location  was  selected  and  the  work  begun.  It  was  decided  to 
have  it  built  on  land  directly  east  of  the  church  and  about  forty 
feet  from  it,  the  land  being  owned  by  the  church.  C.  H.  Eastman 
was  chairman  of  the  trustees  at  that  time,  and  under  his  direction, 
and  that  of  Mr.  Kelsc}'  the  house  was  planned,  and  the  job  let  to 
Mr.  George  H.  Stevens.  Through  the  fall  and  winter  of  1870-71, 
the  work  was  pushed.  Mr.  Eastman  resigned  the  chairmanship  of 
the  trustees,  and  R.  R.  Bunnell  filled  his  place.  Other  trustees, 
and  active  forwarders  of  the  work  were  Henry  Colby,  C.  O.  East- 
man, Abner  Stowell,  and  Lewis  Neal.  The  church  generall}-  work- 
ed earnestly  to  forward  the  project.  Mr.  Stevens  was  to  have 
$2,700.  for  building  the  house  and  barn,  and  digging  the  cellar  and 
well.  Something  more  than  this  was  i)aid  him,  as  he  did  more 
work  than  the  contract  called  for.  At  the  completion  of  the  job, 
about  $  1,800.  had  been  raised  by  subscription  and  paid.  The  sum 
of  S  1,000.  was  hired  of  Henry  Colby  to  pa}'  the  rest,  and  a  mort- 
gage on  the  new  parsonage  given  for  that  and  6Ci(»0.  additional 
hired  of  the  same  man  to  settle  outstanding  accounts  on  current 
expenses.  This  mortgage  was  lifted  in  1.S80.  The  parsonage  is 
large,  airy  and  fine.     It  has   six  rooms  below,  besides   halls  and 


30  HISTORICAL    SKI-TCH    OK 

rlosota  ;  niid  aliovc,  five  laif^c;  rooms.  It  has  connected  with  it  a 
roniinodious  l)arn.  The  ladies  of  the  church  interested  themselves 
in  lurnishing  the  new  house  ;  good  furniture  stoves,  tables,  carpets, 
etc.  are  in,  and  the  household  penates  to  be  moved  by  the  itinerant 
made  correspondingly  lighter.  At  the  third  (Quarterly  Conference 
of  this  year,  the  trustees  were  requested  to  make  a  schedule  of  the 
liabilities  of  the  church  and  Society,  and  to  take  such  steps  as  might 
be  deemed  best,  to  pay  those  claims.  At  a  special  meeting  of  the 
Society,  Feb.  4,  1871,  it  was  voted  that  the  trustees  be  authorized 
to  raise  $  425  by  subscription  to  liquidate  the  indebtedness  of  the 
Society,  with  the  exception  of  what  is  due  on  the  new  parsonage. 
On  the  20lh  of  the  same  month,  the  sum  of  S  GOO  was  hired  of 
Henry  Coll)y,  and  all  debts  against  llie  church,  save  those  of  the 
new  parsonage,  were  paid.  These  claims  had  arisen  in  current 
expenses,  and  the  effort  to  raise  the  mone}'  by  subscription,  if  an}' 
etibrt  was  made,  seems  to  have  failed. 

At  a  meeting  April  8,  1871,  the  claim  of  George  II.  Stevens, 
for  building  the  new  parsonage  was  ordered  to  be  paid.  What  that 
claim  was  does  not  appear  on  the  records- 

For  awhile  Mr.  Kelsc}-  preached  to  the  Sunda}-  School  every 
Sunday  morning.  He  also  preached  during  the  fall  of  the  same 
year,  to  very  large  audiences  Sunday  evenings  at  the  Town  Hall. 

In  1873  Rev.  N.  M.  Bailey  succeeded  Mr.  Kelsey.  His  term 
of  two  years  was  a  successful  one,  and  has  left  a  deep  impression. 
The  Quarterly  Conference,  in  March,  1874,  voted  an  invitation  for 
the  Annual  Conference  to  hold  its  session  of  1875  in  Claremont, 
but  the  invitation  was  not  accepted.  It  appears  that  two  women 
were  elected  on  the  board  of  Stewards  in  1874,  Mrs.  Ann  Perkins 
and  Mrs.  Melissa  Fitch.  They  served  five  3'ears,  resigning  in 
1879,  in  spite  of  all  efforts  to  retain  them.  Two  important  arti- 
(iles  of  furniture  for  the  parsonage  were  ord  ered  purchased  with 
the  money  left  over  from  building  the  cottage  at  the  camp-grounds, 
a  desk  and  a  lounge. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Soeiet}"  in  1873  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  P.  Wallingford,  C.  II.  Eastman,  and  C.  O.  Eastman,  was 
ordered  to  "investigate  bow  the  Society  came  into  existence  and 
whether  it  was  practicable  to  change  to  an  organization  in  the 
form  usual  to  others  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church."  The 
next  year  P.  Wallingford,  as  chairman  of  that  committee,  reported 


METHODISM    IN    CLARKMONT.  31 

verbally  that  it  was  not  best  under  the  cireurastanccs  to  make  an}' 
change  at  that  time.  The  Society  in  the  M.  E.  Church  of  C'lare- 
mont  is  legally  distinct  from  the  Church.  According  to  an  old 
law  of  the  state,  and  which  was  in  force  when  the  church  here 
was  organized,  the  Society  consisted  of  such  people  of  the  parish 
as  might  sign  the  Constitution,  whether  they  were  members  of  the 
Church  or  not.  This  law  was  made,  it  seems,  according  to  the  cus- 
tom which  prevailed  in  the  Congregational  Church,  of  the  Society 
and  parish  being  legalh'  separate. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Societ}-  in  1874,  the  Constitution 
was  amended  b^'  the  adoption  of  the  following  resolution  :  "That 
the  President  and  Trustees  of  this  Societ}-  shall  have  power  to  fill 
all  vacancies  which  maj-  occur  in  the  board  of  officers  of  said 
Society."  In  the  Society*  meeting  of  1875  it  was  voted  "to  in- 
struct the  Treasurer  to  settle  with  and  pay  the  preacher  in  charge 
once  in  three  months."  Pleasing  order  in  financial  matters  per- 
taining to  current  expenses  was  graduallj-  reached  during  the 
years  before  this  date,  under  the  Treasury  ship  of  CO.  East- 
man, and  has  been  contiiuied  to  the  present  time. 

In  1875  Rev.  E.  R.  Wilkins  came  in  place  of  Mr.  Bailey.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  of  three  years  the  people  were  pleased  with  him 
and  he  with  the  people.  His  indefatigable  pastoral  labors 
were  greatly  appreciated.  Tlie  work  of  improving  the  surround- 
ings and  cottage  at  the  campgrounds,  was  pushed  vigorously  for- 
ward. The  first  Quarterly  Conference  for  1878  recommended  to 
the  stewards  weekly  collections  with  the  envelope  system,  to  meet 
deficiency  in  current  expenses,  which  was  continued  to  1881,  when 
under  order  of  the  Trustees,  it  was  taken  by  subscription  on  Sun- 
da}'  morning,  Oct.  16. 

In  1878  Rev.  Daniel  Stevenson,  D.  D.  succeeded  Mr.  Wilkins, 
and  entered  on  his  duties  with  vigor  and  success.  Among  his 
otlier  labors  he  did  a  grand  work  for  the  Societ}-  in  revising  the 
Ciuirch  Records.  His  sermons  were  of  a  high  order.  A  book 
l)ublished  while  here,  "The  Elements  of  IVIetliodism,"  obtained  a 
wide  sale  among  the  people.  In  the  summer  of  1879  he  deemed 
it  best  to  resign  his  cluugo.  accepting  a  re-transfcr  to  the  Ken- 
tuck}- Conference  from  whicli  he  had  come  to  the  N.  II.  Confer- 
ence four  years  before.  He  entered  on  the  Presidency  of  the 
Augusta  Seminary  and  Female  College.     July  12,   the  Quarterlv 


32  niSTORICAI.    SKETCH    OF 

Coiiforoiicp  pjissod  the  following  resolution  "  that  after  the  remarks 
of  Dr.  Stevenson  we  cordially  concur  in  the  arrangement,  if  it  is 
consummated,  though  we  regret  exceedingly  the  loss  we  siiall  sus- 
tain." 

The  Presiding  Elder,  Rev.  Geo.  J.  Judkins,  secured  Rev.  M. 
V,    B.   Knox,   of  the  South  Kansas  Conference,  recuperating  in  - 
Nortlicrn  Vermont,  to  fill  out  the  remainder  of  the  year. 

In  the  fall  of  1879,  a  committee  on  church  repairs  having  been 
formed  early  in  the  year,  the  sum  of  S  GOO  was  asked  for  one  Sun- 
day morning,  to  make  repairs,  and  pa}'  the  interest  due  on  the 
mortgage  of  $  1,600  on  the  Parsonage.  The  blackboard  was  used, 
and  soon  $  750  was  pledged  and  the  Sunday  following  8  loO  more, 
so  willing  were  the  people  to  give,  the  understanding  being  that  if 
anything  remained  over  the  repairs  and  interest  it  should  go  toward 
liquidating  the  debt.  Repairs  ^ere  at  once  proceeded  with,  in- 
cluding slate  roof,  new  furnace,  fresh  kalsomining,  etc.,  to  the 
amount  of  8  670.  This  lelt  8  230  of  the  sum  raised  to  be  applied 
on  the  debt.  Added  to  the  mortgage  of  8  1,600,  held  by  Ilenr}- 
Colb}',  was  accumulated  interest,  bills  for  repairs,  etc.,  making  the 
total  amount  to  be  paid  81,935.  One  Sunday  in  Dec.  over  8  1,300 
was  pledged  in  a  few  minutes  toward  the  8  1,700  needed,  and  the 
remainder  being  soon  raised,  the  church  was  freed  from  a  debt 
that  had  troubled  it  for  more  than  nine  years.  The  ladies  raised 
$330  additional  to  buy  a  new  carpet,  and  the  church  was  thus  put 
in  completest  repair.  Since  then  it  and  the  parsonage  have  been 
fresh  painted  and  other  repairs  done. 

At  the  Quarterly  Conference,  Jan.  3,  1880,  O.  B.  Way,  M.  D. 
■was  elected  delegate  to  the  Annual  Conference  at  Great  Falls, 
and  b}'  that  body  was  elected  Lay  Delegate  to  the  Gen.  Confer- 
ence, at  Cincinnati,  O.,  which  he  attended,  much  interested  and 
profited.  The  same  Quarterly  Conference  requested  the  transfer  of 
Mr.  Knox  from  the  South  Kansas  Conference  to  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Conference,  and  asked  that  he  be  stationed  on  this  charge. 

During  this  year,  Mrs.  Julia  A.  D.  Eastman,  widow  of  Hon. 
C.  II.  Eastman,  proposed  to  carry  out  a  wish  of  her  husband  to 
do  something  for  the  Church,  he  having  been  prevented  from  do- 
ing himself  by  his  sudden  death.  Her  first  proposition  was  to 
give  8  1,000  to  build  a  Memorial  Chapel,  which  gift  was  duh*  se- 
cured to  the  Trustees ;  but  as  this  would  not  build  a  chapel  as 


METHODISM    IN    CLAUEMONT.  33 

large  as  she  desired,  she  added  S  500  to  her  original  gift,  the 
chapel  being  built  Glx3i>  feet,  with  vestry,  large  parlor,  library. 
and  vestibule.  jNIrs.  Eastman  added  a  carpet  that  cost  al»ont  a 
hundred  dollars ;  other  lurnishing  cost  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty  more.  It  is  seated  with  about  180  chairs,  and  250  people 
can  be  comfortably  accommodated,  by  throwing  back  the  sliding 
doors  of  the  parlor.  It  joins  the  church  on  the  north-east  cor- 
ner sufficiently  to  give  a  good  doorway  into  the  church  from  the 
vestibule,  and  then  reaches  back  northward.  It  was  dedicated 
Dec.  22,  1880,  by  Presiding  Elder  George  J.  Judkins. 

A  course  of  Free  Lectures  on  various  topics  of  Literary,  Scien- 
tific, Historical,  and  Technical  interest  was  given  during  the  winter 
of  1880-1  and  anotiier  during  the  winter  of  1881-2,  in  which  Dr. 
O.  B.  Way,  Miss  Mary  J.  Wightman,  Rev.  P.  Wallingford,  (ieo. 
E.  Perley,  Esq.,  Hon.  Ira  Colby,  Miss  R.  Annie  IJarker,  Mrs. 
N.  II.  Knox,  and  Rev.  M.  V.  B.  Knox,  took  part.  The  people  of 
the  church  and  of  the  town  attended  in  large  mimbers. 

Tlie  official  Board  ha\  ing  extended  an  invitation  again  to  the 
Annual  Conference,  to  hold  its  session  for  1881  here,  it  was  ac- 
cepted, the  Conference  meeting  April  20.  Bishop  Tiiomas  Bow- 
man i)resided  with  markeil  ability  and  success.  The  members  of 
the  Conference  were  easily  entertained  by  the  people  of  the  church, 
aided  some  by  the  other  denominations  of  the  town.  All  tlie  anni- 
versaries were  successful,  the  various  pulpits  of  the  town  were 
filled  by  members  of  the  Conference,  the  "N.  H.  Conference  Daily" 
was  published  for  free  distribution,  nnder  the  direction  of  F.  F. 
Haskell  and  the  pastor,  and  abl}-  edited  b}-  Geo.  E.  Perley  Esq. 
The  presence  and  work  of  the  Conference  contributed  to  the  ap- 
preciation of  Methodism  b^'  the  citizens  of  Claremont. 

The  Ladies  Social  Circle  had  its  origin  far  back  in  the  early 
history'  of  the  church.  As  early  as  1844  those  living  yet  were 
workers  in  it.  At  that  time  Mrs.  Niles  was  President  of  it.  They 
worked  to  supply  the  destitute ;  for  furnishing  the  church,  the 
parsonage,  etc.  The  present  Social  Circle  was  formally  organized 
in  1860,  with  Mrs.  C.  II.  Eastman  President.  She  held  that  posi- 
tion several  jears.  Others  who  have  served  in  that  place  are  Mrs. 
Rev.  R.  S.  Stubbs,  Mrs.  Rev.  H.  II.  Ilartwdl,  Mrs.  E.  Bailey, 
Mrs.  M.  E.  Carey,  :Mrs.  I).  Tutherly,  Mrs.  Geo.  Fitch,  Mrs.  Eli 
Smith,  and,  reaching  to  the  present  time,  Mrs.  Francis  Locke,  who 


34  HISTORICAL    SKKTCII    OF 

Ims  held  llic  place  two  years.  The  present  Circle  lias  labored  for 
InrDishinp;  the  parsonaf^c,  for  benevolent  purposes,  for  the  soldiers 
(luring  the  war  of  1861-5,  for  rei)airing  the  inside  of  the  church, 
and,  of  late  years,  for  paying  the  organist  and  singers.  It  meets 
eveiT  two  weeks,  at  some  private  house,  on  "Wednesday  evening. 
An  annual  membership  fee  is  charged  of  fifty  cents  for  men,  and 
twoiity-five  for  women  ;  at  every  gathering  of  the  Circle  a  contri- 
buticju  of  five  cents  is  expected  from  every  one  present.  Each 
year  a  Festival  is  held  at  the  Town  Hall  at  which  a  good  sum  is 
realized — tliis  year  netting  $211. 

An  Auxiliary  of  The  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
was  first  organized  in  this  church,  Feb.  14,  1874,  under  the  pastor- 
ate of  Kev.  N.  M.  Bailc}-.  The  first  president  was  Mrs.  Rev.  N. 
M.  Bailey  and  the  new  auxiliaiy  started  oflT  with  a  membership 
of  nineteen.  It  has  always  had  a  prosperous  history.  Following 
tiie  first  president  have  been  the  appended  ones :  Mrs.  Kev.  E. 
R.  Wilkins,  Mrs.  Rev.  D.  Stevenson,  and  IMrs.  Rev.  M.  V.  B. 
Knox.  The  membership  has  never  been  large,  but  they  have  all 
worked  vigorousl}'.  Yet  in  187G,  the  membership  was  fort^'-seven. 
The  amount  raised  has  ranged  from  S6.50  the  first  ^'ear  to  $80,  in 
1878,  since  which  time  it  has  descended  to  $  56,  in  1882.  The 
regular  meetings  are  held  once  a  month,  at  some  private  house. 

CLAREMONT  JUNCTION  CAMP-MEETING. 

The  subject  of  a  permanent  camp-meeting  for  the  Methodist 
Churches  in  the  contiguous  parts  of  New  Hampsliire  and  Vermont 
having  been  agitated,  the  Springfield  Ministerial  Association  which 
met  at  Bellows  Falls  some  time  in  1871,  appointed  a  committee  to 
meet  a  similar  committee  from  the  Claremont  District  at  Clare- 
raont,  Jan.  2,  1872.  This  preliminaiy  meeting  was  held  in  the 
office  of  O.  B.  Wa}',  M.  D.  Rev.  James  Pike,  D.  D.  was  made 
chairman,  and  O.  B.  Wa}',  Secretary.  Committees  were  appoint- 
ed to  confer  with  the  various  railroads  regarding  terms  for  trans- 
l)orting  passengers,  baggage,  etc.,  to  and  from  the  proposed 
camp-meeting.  At  a  meeting  of  these  committees.  Feb.  2,  1872, 
a  sub-committee  was  empowered  to  call  a  camp  meeting  convention 
for  the  two  districts,  and  to  confer  with  Messrs.  Jones,  Ellis,  and 
Canty,  owners  of  the  land  at  the  site  proposed,  relative  to  pur- 
chasing it.       Still  later,  March  8,   1872,   at  another   meeting  of 


METHODISM    IX    CLAREMOXT.  35 

committees,  the  two  presiding  elders  of  the  districts  were  invited 
to  call  a  camp-rae(!ting  convention,  consisting  of  all  the  preachers 
of  the  two  districts,  and  one  layman  from  each  charge,  to  be  held 
at  Claremont  Junction,  June  2,  1872.  Of  this  convention  which 
dul}'  met,  Rev.  James  Pike  D.  D.  was  chosen  chairman.  Rev.  P. 
Wallingford  Sec,  and  Rev.  J.  H.  Ilillman  Assist.  Sec.  Ri-ports 
from  the  committee  to  confer  with  the  railroads,  and  from  others, 
were  rendered,  the  grounds  were  examined,  ordered  to  he  pur- 
chased, the  Executive  Committee  was  empowered  to  seek  incorpo- 
ration under  N.  11.  laws.  The  first  set  of  permanent  otlicers 
consisted  of  the  following :  Pres.,  Rev.  James  Pike,  D.  D.  ;  Vice 
Pres.,  Rev.  J.  W.  Guernsey;  Sec,  Rev.  P.  Wallingford;  Treas- 
urer, O.  B.  Way,  M.  D.  ;  Ex.  Com.,  H.  II.  IIowc,  A.  L.  Jones, 
A.  C.  Davenport,  Rev.  11.  W.  Worthen,  Rev.  H.  L.  Kelsey. 
Mone}-,  to  purchase  the  site  now  occupied,  was  solicited  from  the 
two  districts  interested,  hy  Presiding  Elders  Pike  and  Guernsey, 
with  P.  Wallingford  additional  solicitor  on  the  Claremont  Dist. 
A  thousand  dollars  was  needed  to  pay  down  on  the  first  purchase, 
which  was  to  cost  two  thousand  two  hundred  dollars.  This  thou- 
sand dollars  was  finally  raised,  and  paid.  At  an  executive  committee 
meeting,  May  27,  1873,  the  Treasurer,  O.  B.  Way,  was  em- 
powered to  buy  the  land,  paying  as  above,  and  give  a  mortgage 
back  to  Mr.  Ellis  to  secure  him  the  remainder.  These  instructions 
were  carried  out,  a  warrant}-  deed  was  obtained  of  the  plot  con- 
taining 10  acres,  86  5-6  rods. 

On  June  19  the  committee  met  at  the  new  grounds,  and  arrange- 
ments were  made  to  sell  the  lots,  subject  to  conditions  wisely 
guarding  the  rights  and  needs  of  the  association.  An  elaborate 
map  and  plan  of  the  grounds  having  been  made  l)y  P.  Wallingford, 
the  sale  took  place  June  24.  In  the  meantime,  and  fallowing,  va- 
rious committees  had  cleared  the  ground  of  trees  and  other  ob- 
structions, built  seats,  erected  a  preachers'  stand,  and  several 
prett}'  cottages  were  soon  put  up  by  societies  and  intlividuals. 

The  first  camp-meeting  was  held  the  last  week  of  Sept.  1873. 
Thus  after  a  3'ear  and  a  half  was  consummated  this  great  under- 
taking Avhich  has  aftbrded  to  the  cluuxhes  of  Claremont  and 
Springfield  Districts,  so  much  benefit  in  spiritual  achievement  and 
enlargement.  The  original  purchase  of  land  has  been  increased  by 
addition  bought  from  D.  Cant}-,  and  three  acres  for  stabling,  east 


30  lIISTOIJIfAl,    SKKTfll    OK 

of  tlic  liiulnviiy,  of  Liiciiiii  Jones,  lK'.si<I(,'.s  a  gift  for  an  avonnn  from 
^^  iHi;ini  Jones.  A  hirj^e  and  coinniodions  hoanliiiti  lionse  was 
hiiilt  in  iNT.'t,  liavinjjj  ample  kitehens,  sales-room,  dining;  ro<jin,  etc. 
h.'low,  an.l  thirty  two  dormitories  above.  In  1H70  water  was 
hroniiht  from  a  s|)ring  Icn-ated  at  the  sonth  side  of  the  gronnds,  to 
till' central  part  <jf  the  area;  ImL  this  |)r(n-ing  insufMcient  a  large 
sjtring  was  purchased  in  IHHl  for  one  hundred  dollars,  at  the  north 
of  the  ground,  and  at  a  cost  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
dollars,  was  brought  to  a  large  reservoir  near  the  boarding  house. 
The  conduct  of  the  services  at  the  cu'np-meetings,  which  have  been 
held  every  year,  is  under  the  joint  direction  of  the  Presiding  Elders 
of  the  two  districts  ;  those  of  the  Claremont  district  by  James  Pike, 
D.  D.,  M.  T.  Cilley,  Geo.  J.  Judkins,  and  ().  II.  Jasper  D.  D.  ; 
the  Springfield  district  being  represented  by  J.  W.  Guernsejv^*  D. 
Beeman,  and  H.  A.  Spencer. 

The  Claremont  people  built  a  cottage  the  first  season  of  the 
meeting  ;  but  sold  it  as  being  too  small,  and  the  next  season,  under 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  N.  M.  Bailey,  built  a  large  and  commodious 
one  now  occupied  from  year  to  year. 

PERSONAL  NOTES. 

Bekiah  Alden,  with  her  sister  ]\Irs.  Pettigrew  lived  and 

died  in  the  small  house,  now  standing,  on  the  height,  near  Mr. 
Beatson's  residence.  These  two  sisters  were  very  devoted  C'hiis- 
tians,  earnest  workers  in  all  church  meetings,  and  their  home  was 
for  many  years  noted  as  being  the  place  of  most  powerful  Meth- 
odist pra^'cr  and  class  meetings. 

Mrs.  Tkial  Bates  was  an  old-fashioned  Methodist  and  like 
many  of  the  elect  ladies  of  the  early  Church  here,  lived  on  Bible 
Hill.  For  a  long  time  class  and  prayer  meetings  were  held  at 
her  house,  and  she  was  a  heart}-  worker  in  them  all. 

CiiAs.  C.  Church  was  converted  in  earlj*  life.  He  attended 
school  at  Marlow,  N.  H.  with  Ira  Colb}',  came  to  Claremont  in 
1855,  and  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  Claremont  Academ}-,  having 
his  wife  as  assistant  teacher.  He  was  activel}'  identified  in  all  the 
interests  of  the  church,  and  on  the  departure  from  town  of  Mr. 
Rodlitf,  was  elected  S.  S.  Supt.  which  place  he  held  with  marked 
ability  until  his  death  in  1863. 


METHODISM    IN    CLAREMONT.  37 

Erastus  Clark,  for  nian\'  yenrs  ideiitificcl  witli  ^letlioflisni  here, 
was  a  man  of  marked  business  ability  and  this  he  heartily  used  in 
the  interests  of  the  churcli.  He  engaged  in  the  preh"niinary  arrange- 
ments for  erecting  the  present  church  edifice  with  nincli  entliusiasm, 
and  saw  active  preperations  begun;  but  died  in  is.VJ — the  year 
before  the  building  was  completed. 

Ira  Colby,  father  of  Hon.  Ira  Coll)y.  now  of  tliis  Church,  em- 
braced religion  in  1838  under  the  preaching  of  Rev.  iMoscs  Cliase. 
and  at  once  connected  himself  with  the  IMethodist  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  he  was  an  active  and  influential  member  until 
called  into  a  higher  and  holier  communion.  He  loved  the  church 
in  the  bosom  of  which  he  enjoyed  the  comforts  of  his  early  expe- 
rience, was  always  efficient  in  the  discharge  of  iiis  official  relations 
in  its  temporal  and  spiritual  management,  and  enjoyed  in  an  emi- 
nent degree  the  love  and  esteem  of  his  brethren.  He  lived  on 
Bible  Hill,  which  derived  its  name  from  the  grand  meetings  thej- 
had,  and  from  the  deep  Bible  devotion  of  the  many  INIetliodists 
living  there.  He  was  twice  chosen  to  rei)resent  the  town  in  the 
State  Legislature  and  for  two  consecutive  years  was  one  of  the 
Selectmen.  He  died  in  1873  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  His 
widow  still  survives  in  vigorous  old  age  at  79  years.  Slie  joined 
tlie  church  at  the  same  time  with  her  husband  and  is  one  of  the 
oldest  living  members. 

Col.  Joshua  Colbv,  father  of  Ili-nry  Colby,  one  of  our  present 
Trustees,  was  also  a  devoted  member  of  the  clun'ch,  an  able  olHcial 
member  and  prominent  in  the  business  matters  of  the  society.  He 
was  a  local  preacher ;  was  given  many  ofHccs  of  [)ublic  trust,  and 
was  in  otlier  waj's  honored  by  his  fellow  citizens. 

Albicrt  H.  Danforth  came  to  Claremont  with  his  family  about 
1848,  from  Barnard,  Vt.,  entering  into  business  lu're.  At  once, 
and  during  his  residence  it)  town,  he  was  actively  identi(it'<l  with  all 
the  interests  in  the  Churcli.  He  was  given  many  ollices  in  tht-  town 
and  county.  His  promini'ncc  in  these  things,  eb»iple<l  with  his  lil)- 
erality  and  heart}'  interest  in  the  church,  made  him  a  valual»le  and 
efficient  worker  in  the  INIaster's  cause.  In  1)S77  he  moved  to  Chi- 
cago where  he  now  resides. 

Thomas  Davis  lived  many  years  on  fJrceu  ^lountain,  on  the  farm 
now  ()ccii|)ied  by  INIr.  Amos  1).  Johnson.  He  was  one  of  the  cir- 
lier  Methodists  in  town — though  not  among  the  liisl,  and  his  name 


88  lIISTOItlCAL    SKETCH    OF 

oftt-n  iippcniH  ill  MM  oMici.'il  c'liiMcit v.  In  tlie  l»iiil<liiifr  of  tlio  old 
cliiiicli  odUicc,  on  Sullivan  street,  about  182C,  Mr.  Davis  took  a 
very  active  part  and  was  one  of  the  trustees.  A  few  years  later 
he  moved  to  Hoehester,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died. 

Asa  Din.smohk  was  not  ronverted  very  early  in  life,  but  once  con- 
secrated to  the  Lord  was  a  very  devoted  Christian.  I'pon  such  a 
iiiaii  the  olIi(-ial  duties  were  sure  to  fall,  and  so  he  is  fcnind  with 
the  work  of  those  duties  on  him  wiiich  did  not  indeed  brinjj;  much 
worldly  honor,  but  soon  to  lie  crowned  by  heavenly  ones.  Fervent 
in  his  devotions,  honest  in  heart  and  life,  a  pleasing  and  prominent 
man  in  comnuinit\ ,  he  carried  great  weight  in  all  his  relations  in  life. 

Rkv.  LitKKNZo  Dhapf.k.  a  native  of  this  i)lace,  was  l)orn  March 
IC),  IMIO.  His  i)arents  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  in  1838,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Moses  Chase,  ^Ir. 
Draper  was  converted.  In  1841  he  went  to  Oberlin  College,  taking 
studies  for  some  time  in  the  Theological  department,  and  returned 
to  Clarcmont  in  1843,  having  been  licensed  as  an  exhorter.  In  1848 
he  was  ordained  deacon  by  IJishoi)  Iledding.  In  1850  he  joined  the 
New  Hampshire  Conference  on  trial ;  and  in  1857  was  ordained  elder 
b}-  Bishop  Morris.  After  joining  the  Conference  in  1850  his  appoint- 
ments were  as  follows :  Richmond,  Cornish,  Lempster,  Epping, 
Greenland,  Kingston,  Moultonboro,  Candia,  Derry,  Rindge,  Peter- 
boro,  Croydon,  Cornish,  Brookline,  Marlboro,  Hebron,  Chichester, 
Seabrook.  At  the  last  place  he  was  prostrated  with  typhoid 
pneumonia  and  took  a  supernumerary  relation  to  Conference,  re- 
siding at  Brookline,  and  supplying  at  South  Tamworth.  In  1879 
Le  removed  to  Claremont  where  he  now  lives. 

Calkb  Dustin  was  a  local  preacher,  and  one  of  the  biightest 
characters  ever  developed  here  by  the  Methodist  Church.  Ft)r  some 
years  he  did  mucli  of  the  preaching  in  this  town  and  on  other  parts 
of  the  large  circuit,  though  a  resident  member.  His  memory  is 
very  precious  to  those  who  knew  liim.  He  dieil  in  1821.  His  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Jonathan    Densmore,  born  after  her  father's  death,  sung 

thus  of  his  memory. 

"Ere  thy  n.inie  was  lisjied  hy  me, 

I.  of  thy  {Tiiardism  care  was  reft, 

But  fiim-y  wreathes  around  thj-  name 

Fairer  flowers  tlian  e'er  atlorned  tlie  brow  of  fame.'' 
Hon.  Chahi.ks   H.   Eastman,   whose  father,   Timothy  Eastman, 
lived  a   long   time  in  Claremont,   was  for   man}"   jears   intimately 


METHODISM    IN    CLAREMONT.  39 

connected  with  the  Methodist  Church.  Under  the  kind  influences 
of  Christian  parentage,  he  was  converted  in  early  life,  and,  on 
arriving  at  manhood  joined  the  N.  II.  Conference  and  preached 
two  years  at  Manchester.  After  this  he  entered  business  life,  go- 
ing first  into  tlie  lumber  trade,  and  later  settling  in  Claremont,  be- 
came identified  with  his  father  in  tlie  tanning  business.  At  his 
father's  death  he  assumed  control  of  the  tanner}',  at  which  he  con- 
tinued until  his  death.  He  was  for  many  years  Sunday  School 
Supt.,  Chairman  of  the  Trustees,  an  active  oflicial  memljcr,  and 
in  every  way  was  actively*  identified  with  every  interest  of  the 
Church.  To  him  were  given  important  political  oflices,  in  l^((!l-2 
he  had  a  seat  in  tlie  Legislature  ;  in  18G3-4  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Executive  Council.  He  died  Aug.  4, 1878  from  appoplexy. 
His  widow  was  his  third  wife,  and  to  commemorate  his  name  and 
virtues  she  gratefully  caused  the  erection  of  the  Eastman  ^Memorial 
Chapel,  which  will  long  remain  a  fitting  monument  of  his  hearty 
work  in  behalf  of  Methodism  in  this  town. 

Cutler  Edson  was  converted  in  his  early  life,  but  did  not 
join  a  church  until  manhood.  After  marriage,  he  and  his  wife 
united  with  the  M.  E.  Church  at  Bellows  Falls,  Vt.,  in  1841,  under 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Jacob  Stevens,  who  baptized  them.  In  1865 
the}'  moved  to  Claremont,  N.  H.,  uniting  b}'  letter  with  the  Church 
here,  and  he  was  from  that  time  an  active,  efficient  worker,  most  of 
the  time  an  official  member,  being  class-leader  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  His  was  an  unobtrusive  character,  and  in  the  culture  of  a 
Christian  life  he  found  the  truest  opportunities  of  developing  a 
rounded,  complete  manhood.  During  the  war  he  was  bugler  in 
the  r)th  N.  II.  Vol.  Infantry.  His  last  words  were,  ''It  is  all  right." 
He  died  April  14,  1S«1. 

Rev.  Abram  Folsom,  for  some  years  empWed  in  the  printing 
establishment  of  the  Claremont  Manufact'g  Company,  was  granted 
local  preacher's  license,  and  was  often  employed  here  and  in  places 
near.  In  1838  he  joined  the  N.  H.  Conference  from  this  place,  and 
for  tiiirty-six  years  took  appointments,  among  which  were  Ei)ping, 
Rye,  Auburn,  Pembroke,  Marlow,  Heimiker  and  Warner.  His 
health  finally  yielding  he  located  at  Raymond,  where  he  died  in  InT'J. 

Freeman  CJee,  a  native  of  Marlow,  came  to  Claremont  in  l.s.M), 
and,  already  a  ^Methodist,  at  once  entered  into  intimate  relations 
with  the  Church.      lie  was  always  to  be  found  at  the  prayer  and 


40  niSTORICAL    SKKTf'II    OK 

(•'.Mss-nu'cting.  mid  was  u  licaily  worker  in  tliciii.  lie  was  for  many 
years  a  successful  Siimlay  Scliof)!  Icaclicr,  and  held  odicial  respon- 
sibilities, being  for  some  years  a  class  leader,  and  assistant  Sunday 
School  Su[)t.      lie  passed  to  his  reward  in  1874,  aged  70  years. 

Mus.  Hannah  fioonwiN  was  one  of  the  elect  ladies  of  the  Church. 
For  many  3'ears,  a  widow,  she  lived  on  Green  Mountain  east  of 
where  R.  K.  Bunnell  now  lives.  For  3enrs  prayer  and  class  meet- 
ings were  held  at  her  house,  the  famous  Zeb.  Twitchell  being  one 
of  the  preachers  who  held  meetings  also  in  the  school  house  near 
her  home.  Her  doors  were  always  open  to  the  itinerant.  In  1864 
she  passed  to  her  brighter  reward. 

Fkkdeuick  a.  Hknry  joined  the  Church  about  1832  and  at  once 
became  an  able  and  prominent  burden  bearer.  He  was  a  class- 
leader  for  some  time,  steward  a  longer  time,  and  many  yesivs 
Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  Having  financial  success  he 
was  always  read}'  with  his  money  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  cause 
he  espoused.  He  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age,  dying  with  a  confident 
trust  in  Jesus,  during  the  autumn  of  1881. 

Rkv.  Henry  Hill,  Jr.,  was  a  native  of  Claremont,  born  Feb.  13, 
1819.  His  early  life  was  spent  here  at  school,  and  he  was  converted 
under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  jMoses  Chase,  in  1837.  After  that  he 
spent  three  3"ears  at  Newbury  Seminary,  Vt.,  and  was  licensed. 
His  first  appointment  was  in  1844  at  Sandwich.  The  same  year 
he  was  married  to  Sarah  A.  Henderson  by  Rev.  Benj.  Hoyt.  His 
appointments  in  N.  H.  were  as  follows:  1845-6  Holderness  ;  '47 
Bath;  '48-'J  Lancaster;  '50  Kingston  ; '51-2  Great  Falls ;  '53-4 
Amesbury  Mass.  ;  '55-6  Rochester  N.  H.  :  '57  Nashua ;  '58-9  Man- 
chester. At  this  time  his  health  failed,  and  he  located.  During 
1861,  2,  3,  he  was  chaplain  of  the  third  N.  II.  Vols.  ;  and  in  '64-5 
was  Chaplain  of  the  Gen.  Hospital  of  Manchester.  His  health 
becoming  poor  again  he  spent  some  years  with  his  friends  in  Clare- 
mont, and  Royalton,  Vt.  In  1869  he  joined  the  Rock  River  Con- 
ference and  was  stationed  as  follows  :  Dunleith,  111.,  1869,  '70,  '71  ; 
at  Simi)son  Chapel,  Chicago,  '72,  3,  4  ;  Halstead  St.  Church,  Chicago, 
'75.6.  Lockport'77,  Peotone '78.  Again  his  poor  health  compelled 
him  to  cease  work,  and,  superannuated,  he  now  lives  in  Chicago. 

Rkv.  Americus  K.  Howard,  who  went  into  the  ministry  from 
this  town,  received  his  first  license  as  an  exhorter  in  1831  ;  his  first 
local  preacher's  license  in  1832,  and  the  following  3'ear,   at  the 


METHODISM    IX    CT.AREMONT.  41 

Conference  session  in  Xortlifield,  N.  II.,  he  was  received  on  trial. 
The  first  time  he  ever  preached  regularly  from  a  text  was  in  the 
old  church  on  Sullivan  .Street.  His  first  appointment  on  entering 
the  Conference  was  at  North  Wardsboro,  Vt.,  with  the  eccentric 
Zeb.  Twitchell  as  senior  preacher.  At  the  division  of  the  Confer^ 
encc  Mr.  Howard's  lot  fell  in  the  Vermont  Conference  ;  of  whicij  he 
was  chosen  trustee.  For  several  3'ears  he  did  continual  service  as  a 
local  preacher,  wliile  caring  for  his  aged  father-in-law.  Keturning 
at  length  to  his  native  New  Hampshire,  he  had  appointments  in 
various  places  :  and  while  in  labors  abundant  and  hard  at  Marlboro 
he  contracted  a  bronchial  trouble  for  which  he  was  obliged  to  super- 
annuate in  1874.  In  his  growing  years  he  lives  pleasantly  with  his 
wife  and  daughter  at  Auburndale,  Mass. 

Nathan  IIoavaro,  father  of  Rev.  A.  K.  Howard  now  n  niom])or 
of  the  N.  II.  Conference,  was  for  many  3'ears  a  prominent  figure  in 
the  Church.  He  had  a  sharp  tact  for  business,  was  often  recording 
steward,  district  steward,  etc.,  looking  well  to  the  legal  business  of 
the  church,  and  was  for  thirty  3'ears  continuously  class  leader.  His 
talents  were  well  brought  into  play  in  the  social  meetings  ;  his  strong 
personality,  well  asserted,  was  of  worth  at  a  time  when  ^lethodism 
was  not  as  popular  as  now.    He  died  in  18,5o,  aged  seventy-two  years. 

Rev,  Moses  A.  Howe  who  entered  the  ministry  from  Claremont, 
"was  for  some  3'ears  engaged  in  business  here  with  Mr  George 
Wilson,  and  during  that  time  was  licensed  local  preacher,  and  fre- 
quently preached  here  and  at  adjacent  places.  In  18.38,  being  rec- 
ommended b}-  this  Quarterly  Conference,  he  entered  the  Annual 
Conference  and  was  stationed  at  Rindge,  Hudson,  Great  Falls  and 
other  places  in  this  conference :  then  being  transferred  to  the  New 
England  Conference  received  there  important  stations. 

Mks.  Jemima  Johnsox,  mother  of  D.  W,  Johnson,  of  this  town, 
was  a  woman  of  deep  pietv.  and  exempl.-uy  life,  Slie  was  convert- 
ed in  early  life  in  Sutton  ;  after  her  marriage  with  Moses  Johnson 
lived  at  Peterboro,  and  in  1844  they  moved  to  Claremont,  and  she  was 
always  d('e})ly  interested  in  the  church.  Not  demonstrative,  but 
dc(>p  and  rich  in  her  religious  life,  slic  has  left  through  the  church 
an  inliucucc  that  is  like  a  sweet  fragrance.  The  Lord  took  her  to 
her  upper  home  in   1^02. 

Rr.v.  J.  (Jii.Ki-.KT  .loiiNsoN,  a  native  of  tliis  town,  son  of  Talin- 
er  Joinison,  und  lirother  of  A.  1).  Johnson,  grow  up  on   the  home 


42  HISTORICAL    SKKTCH    OF 

farm  on  Cireoii  Mouiitjuii.  lie  was  coiivcrlcd  uinlcr  the  pastoral 
work  of  llev.  Moses  C'liuse  in  1h;57,  at  tlie  same  time  that  Ilev.  L. 
Draper  and  Henry  Hill  wore  converted.  Soon  al'ter  this  he  be- 
gan attending  the  Newbury  Seminary,  after  whicii  he  entered  the 
N.  H.  Conference  bemg  ordained  Deacon  at  tlie  session  held  at 
Lebanon,  in  184G,  b}'  Uishop  AVaiigh.  He  preached  several  years 
at  various  stations  in  this  Conference, — Moultonboro,  Wilmot 
Center,  Marlboro,  and  other  [places  ;  then  being  transferred  to  the 
Maine  Conference  he  preached  two  years  on  Deer  Island.  Some- 
where about  1855  he  moved  to  ^Minnesota,  taking  a  land  claim 
near  Redwing.  Since  that  time  he  has  supplied  many  of  tlie  cir- 
cuits contiguous  to  his  home,  having  been  kept  almost  as  closel3'  at 
preaching  as  though  he  was  a  travelling  minister. 

OiJKi)  Kkmpton,  with  liis  wife,  united  with  this  church  by  letter 
from  Lowell,  Mass.,  in  1859.  They  had  long  been  connected  with 
this  branch  of  the  Church,  and  at  once  entered  heartil}'  into  the 
work  here.  He  was  one  of  the  Trustees  for  several  ^ears,  and  was 
alwa^'s  active  in  freeing  the  church  from  indebtedness,  contributing 
of  his  own  means  with  cheerfulness  and  liberality.  He  died  in 
1873,  aged  78 — leaving  the  devoted  wife,  who  died  in  1878. 

Michael  Lovell  was  a  native  of  Cavendish,  Vt.,  and  came  to 
Claremont  in  182L,  settling  on  Town  Hill.  He  was  converted  in  ear- 
ly life,  and  awhile  after  coming  here  became  a  member  of  the  Church, 
and  in  many  wa^'s  contributed  to  the  growth  of  Methodism.  His 
house  was  always  the  home  of  the  circuit-rider,  and  it  was  also  for 
mail}'  years  the  place  of  meetings  in  that  neighborhood.  The  last 
sermon  preached  by  Caleb  Dustin  was  delivered  at  Mr.  Lovell's 
house.      He  lived  to  be  nearly  ninety-six,  having  died  in  1n()0. 

Charles  H.  Mann  was  converted  and  joined  the  church  in  1831, 
and  by  his  ability  and  devotion  soon  became  a  faithful  and  efficient 
worker.  He  had  man}-  of  the  burdens  of  the  Church  laitl  on  him 
and  bore  them  well.  He  had  decided  talent  which  he  used  to  good 
purpose  in  the  social  meetings.  Having  met  financial  loss  by  the 
burning  of  his  house,  he  moved,  about  ISfiO,  to^Fairlee,  Vt.,  and 
later  to  Bradford  where  in  a  quiet  and  trusting  old  age  he  lives  re- 
spected b}-  all. 

Mks.  Ruth  Moore  was  a  hearty  Christian  and  ardent  Methodist. 
She  was  a  very  active  worker  in  the  spiritual  history  of  the  church. 
Rev.   Caleb  Dustin   married  one  of   her   daughters.       While    the 


METHODISM    IN    CLAREMONT.  43 

only  place  for  Methodist  meetings  in  Claremont  was  Draper's 
Corner,  she  was  always  present  and  aided  the  young  society  every 
way  in  her  power.  She  died  about  1835,  beloved  and  respected 
b}^  all  who  knew  her. 

Lewis  Neal  was  not  converted  till  somewhat  along  in  years 
and  while  he  was  living  in  Unity.  In  IHGl  he  moved  to  Clare- 
mont and  at  once  became  identified  with  the  work  of  the  Church, 
and  the  usual  ofHcial  burdens  were  laid  upon  him.  lie  was  one  of 
the  Trustees  during  the  building  of  the  present  parsonage.  Of 
strict  religious  habits,  he  had  a  deep  and  rich  experience  and  was  a 
man  widely  honored  and  loved.  He  died  in  1878.  He  liad  Ijc- 
queathed  a  part  of  his  property  to  the  Preaclier's  Aid  Society,  and 
part  to  the  Orphan's  Home  at  Franklin. 

Timothy  Nuttixg  was  an  old-fashioned  Methodist — one  of  the 
last  of  a  noble  generation  too  fast  becoming  extinct.  Ili.s  life  was 
a  sturd}'  vindication  of  the  saving  and  elevating  power  of  the  gos- 
pel. He  was  earnest  in  upholding  the  INIaster's  cause,  lil)eral  with 
his  mone}',  and  a  hearty  worker  in  tlie  social  meeting.  He  always 
held  important  official  stations  in  the  Church,  discharging  those 
duties  with  fidelity  and  thoroughness.     He  died  in  1870. 

Jekemiaii  Paul  was  a  native  of  Taunton,  Mass.,  coming  to  Clare- 
mont, about  1832.  He  was  converted  in  early  life,  and  soon  after 
coming  here  was  identified  with  the  Methodist  Church.  On  him 
were  placed  official  duties ;  he  was  a  Sunday  School  teacher  for 
years,  a  class  leader  and  in  every  way  an  active  worker  for  the 
Master.     He  died  at  sixty-five  3-ears  of  age,  in  1873. 

Mus.  Sybil  Reufield,  was  for  many  years  a  proiuiuint  worker 
in  the  Cluirch.  A  constant  attendant  at  churcli,  a  (Icvout  Chris- 
tian, a  hearty  worker  in  social  meetings,  she  left  a  fragrant  memory 
when  taken  to  her  upper  home. 

HoKATio  H.  Koui.iiF  stands  in  the  memory  of  those  who  recol- 
lect him  as  an  ideal  Sunday  School  Sui)erintendent  and  dass-lcadcr. 
He  was  a  man  of  tali'ut,  with  liis  powers  consecrated  to  the  Master's 
work.  Always  at  the  social  meeting,  lie  was  a  man  to  succeed  in  the 
very  imi)ortant  post  of  Sunday  School  Superintendent.  He  held  tills 
place  Crom  about  18-15,  for  more  than  a  dozen  years,  down  to  his  re- 
moval from  Claremont  to  Lowell,  Mass.,  where  he  now  resides.  He- 
fore  him  Charles  H.  Mann  performed  the  duties  of  this  oUice,  and  he 
was  i)recede(l   iiy  an   illustrious  line  of  Suiieriutendeuts,   including 


44  HISTORICAI.    SKETCH    OP 

F.  A.  Hcniv,  r.  W:illiti<;r()r(l,  Al)niin  Folsoiii  mikI  otlicrs.  Fol- 
lowing Mr.  Rodlifr  came  others  as  successful  in  this  importantdnty  : 
C.  C.  (Miurch,  L.  Smith.  O.  IJ.  W.iy,  C.  II.  Fastman,  I.  C.  Ilarri- 
man  to  the  i)resent  iiicnmbent,  (r.  W.  Ilolden. 

Isaac  Sanbokn,  father  of  Jacob  AV.  Sanborn,  who  is  now  and 
has  lontr  boon  a  very  liberal  and  substantial  supporter  of  this 
clniicli  in  all  its  departments,  was  a  native  of  Unity  and  a  pioneer 
Metiiodist.  During  his  residence  in  Clareniont  he  was  a  devoted 
but  quiet  member  and  died  in  1858  aged  73  years. 

Thomas  Sanfokd  was  transferred  b}-  letter  from  Putno}-,  Vt., 
about  1843.  He  owned  and  operated  the  woolen  mill  now  the 
property  of  Mr.  Geo.  L.  Balcom.  A  man  of  wealth  and  abilit}', 
he  took  a  ver}-  prominent  part  in  all  church  business,  and  was 
chairman  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  many  years.  In  building  the 
present  church  edifice  he  was  the  leading  spirit,  and  not  only  did 

much  planning,  but  paid  heavily.     In  1863  he  moved  to , 

INIissouri,  whore  he  died  a  few  years  later,  leaving  many  proofs 
behind  of  liis  laborious  interest  in  the  cause  of  the  Master. 

Rkv.  J.  G.  Smith  grew  up  witii  Methodism  in  Claremout,  and 
was  licensed  as  exhorter  by  Rev.  John  Lord,  and  afterward,  April 
8, 1826,  was  granted  Local  Preacher's  License  at  a  Quarterly  Meet" 
ing  in  Salem,  N.  H.  At  the  Annual  Conference  held  in  Lisbon, 
1826,  he  was  received  on  trial,  with  Deering  as  his  first  circuit.  He 
was  married  to  Polly  Leavitt  of  Royalton,  Vt.,  in  1827,  who  proved 
a  helpmeet  indeed.  After  nearly  fifty-two  years  of  toil  in  the 
itinerancy  she  died  Nov.  26,  1879.  Their  second  son,  F.  A.  Smith, 
is  now  Judge  and  Surrogate  at  Elizabethtown,  Essex  Co.  N.  Y. 
Many  appointments  in  all  parts  of  the  N.  H.  Conference  have  been 
filled  with  success  b}'  Bro.  Smith,  and  since  his  superannuation  in 
1847,  residing  on  a  small  farm  purchased  at  Plymouth,  N.  H.,  he 
has  done  much  preaching  in  surrounding  towns  and  elsewhere,  and 
now,  in  ripe  age,  lives  pleasantly  with  his  only  daughter. 

Eliakim  Stevens  vvas  for  many  years  identified  with  tlie  Church 
in  Chiremont  having  filled  all  the  offices  of  tlie  official  board,  and 
proved  liimself  worthy*  in  ever}'  place.  He  was  converted  early  in 
the  History  of  Methodism  here,  his  name  appearing  in  a  list  given 
when  this  place  was  but  a  small  portion  of  the  Unity  circuit.  He 
lived  to  see  the  Church  become  strong  and  numerous.  In  his 
atest  years  he  was  affiicted  with  a  stroke  of  paralysis  ;    in  this 


MKTHODI'SM    IN    CLAREMONT.  45 

condition  being  brought  to  the  last  lovefeast  he  ever  attended,  and 
being  supported  to  his  feet  by  his  friends,  he  uttered  tlie  name 
"Jesus" — that  only  for  his  testimonN",  with  most  tiirilling  ellect. 

AB>fER  Stowell,  for  years  a  prominent  man  in  the  Church  and 
town,  was  always  read}'  for  duty  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the 
Master's  cause.  For  tliirty-five  years  he  held  important  ollicial 
trusts.  He  was  a  large  owner  in  the  Claremont  Flouring  Mills,  and 
is  remembered  as  a  most  cheerful  and  liberal  contrilnitor  in  all  the 
financial  needs  of  the  Church.  His  earliest  religious  impressions 
were  awakened  under  the  preaching  of  Willjur  Fisk,  in  Lempster, 
N.  H.     He  died  in  187G,  aged  seventy -one  years. 

Rev.  Irad  TA(;<;ARr  was  granteil  a  renewal  of  his  local  preach- 
er's license  in  Claremont,  in  18.53,  where  he  had  liveil  about  a  year 
before  that  time,  and  also  receivetl  of  this  church  the  needed  rec- 
ommendations to  enter  the  Biblical  Institute  at  Concord.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  N.  H.  Conference  on  trial  in  1853,  after  com- 
pleting his  course  at  the  Institute,  at  the  session  of  the  Conference 
held  in  this  town,  with  Deering  and  Windsor  as  his  lirst  appoint- 
ment. He  has  regularly  tilled  appointments  in  various  parts  of 
the  Conference  since  that  time  and  is  now  stationed  at  Brookline. 

Samlel  Tutherly  was  for  many  years  prominently  idenlilied 
with  all  the  work  of  the  church.  He  was  a  prominent  man  in  the 
town,  having  offices  conferred  on  him  again  and  again.  His  rela- 
tions to  the  Church  were  in  part  that  valuable  kind  which  can 
alone  come  from  those  whose  noble  impulses  can  be  carried  out  1)}' 
means  of  their  wealth.  His  son,  David  F.,  brother  of  Hon.  Wil- 
liam E.  was  an  able  and  useful  member  of  this  church,  and  died  in 
peace  in  18G4:. 

EiJENEZER  B.  Walmx(;ford  father  of  Kev.  1'.  Wallingfonl  was 
early  a  member  of  the  Church  in  Marlboro,  where  he  was  a  class  lead- 
er. In  1S28  he  became  connected  with  this  church  and  from  that  time 
forward  was  an  active  worker  for  Mcthoilism.  IIis  house  was  a 
home  for  the  itinerant  to  whom  he  was  a  friend  indeed.  He  died 
in  peace,   18oo. 

P.  Wallin(;foui)  was  l)orn  in  Marlboro,  N.  II.,  .lune  ti,  l>ir2. 
His  parents  moved  to  Claremont  in  lM'7  where  he  obtained  tin-  ad- 
vantages of  the  village  schools;  also  tlie  Methodist  Churcii  anil 
Sunday  School,  of  which  his  parents  were  meml)t'rs.  He  was  c-on- 
verted  at   Chelsea,    Vt.,  .Sei)t.  11,    where   he    was  attending   High 


4G  HISTORICAL    SKETCH    OF 

School,  and  Joined  the  Methodist  Church  at  Claremont.  Jan.  1, 
183H  lie  \v:i8  mnrric'd  to  Caroline  M.  Treadwell,  of  Newmarket  N.  H. 
In  IH  l.'5  he  joined  the  New  England  Conference,  and  went  to  the  fol- 
lowing stations  in  Mass.  :  Natick,  liarre,  South  IJarre,  Winchendon, 
North  IJrooklicld,  8hell)urne  Falls  and  Ilolyoke.  From  the  feeble- 
ness of  his  wife  and  a  bronchial  diUlculty  of  himself,  he  located  in 
IHiiG,  and  returned  to  Claremont,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In 
his  located  capacity  he  was  called  to  sui)i)ly  the  following  places  in 
N.  II. — Rochester,  Rye,  S.  Newmarket,  Walpole,  Cornish  and 
Goshen  ;  and  in  Vt. — N.  Hartland,  and  Weathersfield  l'»ow, — the 
last  in  a  Congregational  Church,  lie  is  now  a  member  of  the  N.  H. 
Conference. 

GoKDON  Way,  father  of  O.  B.  AVay,  M.  D.,  moved  into  Clare- 
mont in  1S44,  from  Lempster,  and  during  the  remainder  of  his  life 
was  thoroughly  identified  with  the  Church  here,  being  for  a  time  one 
of  its  Trustees.  His  Christian  profession  was  marked  In'  the  same 
sturdy  characteristics  as  was  shown  in  his  every  day  life.  His  first 
wife  was  Abigail  Terley,  sister  of  Mrs,  Bishop  O.  C.  Baker.  He 
died  in  1880,  on  his  82d  birth  day,  leaving  a  widow  who  still  lives 
at  the  age  of  81  years,  and  has  been  longer  connected  with  this 
Church  than  any  other  member  now  living,  having  joined  about  the 
year  1824. 

Nathaniel  O.  Way  was  a  native  of  Lempster,  N.  H.,  and  was 
early  a  JMethodist.  AVhile  quite  young  he  prepared  for  the  ministry 
and  joined  the  Vermont  Conference.  A  number  of  years  previous 
to  his  death,  in  1852,  he  located  in  Claremont,  and  was  a  devoted 
member  of  this  church.  His  son,  Alanson  Way,  also  born  in 
Lempster,  was  many  years  an  active  worker  for  Christ  in  this  town. 
He  was  one  of  the  number  who  took  great  interest  in  the  erection 
of  the  present  edifice.     He  died  well  in  1854. 

George  W.  Wilson  was  born  in  Randolph,  Vermont,  in  1802, 
came  to  this  town  in  early  manhood,  and  engaged  in  manutucturing 
woolen  goods.  Identifying  himself  with  this  church,  he  at  once 
became  an  active  and  devoted  worker  for  the  conversion  of  souls. 
He  was  mighty  in  prayer,  being  remembered  by  all  who  knew  him 
as  a  prevailing  Israel.  For  man}-  years  he  was  a  faithful  class- 
leader  and  died  in  1877  in  gi'eat  peace. 


METHODISM    IN    CLAREMONT. 


47 


In  thi.s  Table  the  Preacher's  name  is  against  the  year  in  v:hirh  he 
was  appointed  to  the  Circuit  or  Station,  and  the  statistics  against 
his  name  are  as  he  reported  at  the  close  of  the  Conference  year. 


Annual 
Conference 


Presiding 
Elder's 
District. 


Circuit 


or 


Station. 


Presiding 
Eldur. 


Circuit  or  Sta- 
tion 
Preachers. 


1795  New  York 

17% 

1797 

1798  " 

17991         " 

1800' 

1801 

1802i 


1803  " 

I 

1804  New  Eng. 

1805 
1806 
1807 

1808 

1809 

1810 

1811 

1812 

1813 
1814 
1815 

1816 

1817 

1818 
1819 

1820 
1821 
1822 
182:J 

1824 

1825 

1826 
1827 

1828 

1829 


New  Eng. 

N.  London 
Versliire 

Vermont 

NewHamp. 


New  Hanip. 
CliesterJield 


Hanover 


Jesse  Lee 

G.  Piclvcriiig 
S.  liobtwiciv 

J.  Urodliead 


Vermont 


J.  Crawford 
N.  Grantliam  J.  Hrodliead 


E.  Ilcdding 


Unity 


M.  Ruter 


S.  Slas 


C.  \A'eIls 
J.  A.  MeiTill 


J.  Lindsay 


Wilbur  Flslv 


J.  W.  Haniv 


John  Hill 
Pliilip  Wager 
S.  Weeks 
C.  IJatchelor 
J.  Nichols 
M.  Itutcr    ) 
T.  Branch  i 
K.  .Jones     ; 
J.  Crowell  I 
O.  Heals 
T.  Skeels 
J.  Winch 

A.  Kciii;;an 
P.  Dur^tiu 

J.  Kniilliivul 
1-:.  Wilhml 
Dan.  ^Dung  ( 
11.  Fielil      ( 
H.  Martvn  ( 
C.  Dustiii  / 

B.  JJislKt).  ( 
M.  Bannister' 

C.  Virgin  ] 
L.  Gibson  ] 
C.  Dustin  j 

P.  Dustin  ( 
P.  Dustin      ) 
T.  Asburv    i 
L.  lUiinctt  i 
P.  Aver       i 
C.  \  Irnin  ) 
J. Jaques  j 
H.  Morev      j 
B.  Hazdion  j 

B.  Shaw 

M.  Bannister 

C.  Dustin  j 
J.  Fairnian  | 
K.Otis       I 

D.  Culver  j 
IK.  Olis       ( 

D.  Culver  \ 
[A.  T.ivlor 

L.  Adams  ) 
I..  Walker  i 
.).  Lord 
.».  I.c.rd 
P.  IS.ill 

A.  D.  Mcirlin 
.1.  spaulcliug  I 
.1.  Putnam  / 
|.I.  Steele  \ 
\.  K.  Hough-  I 
.I.Sieele  [ton  j 
L.  Frost 

E.  Scott  ) 
C  P.  Stevens  j 
J.  A.  Scarritt  j 
B.C.  Kastman  { 
B.C.  Eastman  | 
A.  Fay              ( 


I  68 
92 

I  1-22 
131 

I  145 
59 

258 

272! 


203 

I 

176 

! 
221 

238 

202; 

178: 

22l| 

256 

I 

244 

I 
250 

255 
249. 
301 

296 

I 
284 

235' 

221 

29fl 
SOU 

aor> 

303' 

sos' 

36o| 
2681 

411 

3t0; 


48 


IIISTOUK'AL    SKKTCII    OK 


1 

1 

1  •'-'^ 

1 

I'rc-i.lin^' 

Circuit 

Circuit  or  Stii- 

•to 

Annual 

rn-.si.llMK 

i  if 

lililcr'a 

or 

tion 

i 

p 

ClUll'lMHMKT 

Elder. 

•5    2  -z 

"3 

g 

District. 

Station. 

Preachers.* 

«    £  5 

? 

S   :2-  J 

£, 

1830 

New  Hump. 

Claremont 

B.  K.  Hoyt      G.  Putnam  1 
iK.  Putnam  } 
I).  Wells     ) 

.320| 

1831 

" 

" 

" 

"               !•;.  Scott          / 
Z,  Twilchell  i 

20!> 

1832 

" 

Winchester 

" 

.J.  W.  Hardy   K.  Sc  .tt         / 
N.. Johnson  | 

222 

107' 

1833 

" 

" 

II 

C.  1).  Cahoon  K.  M:i.-oii    1 
K.  A.  Hici-  i 

1834 

" 

" 

Clai-emont 

,1.  JIa>clton      / 
K.  15.  Morgan  * 

2.")4 

1835 

•1 

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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angflfs 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  beh)W. 


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3   1158  00817  2719' 


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